1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
879 
Ailing Animals. 
ANSWERS BY DR. F. L. KILBOBNE. 
Bitter Milk. 
For several years I have had trouble 
with my cow giving bitter milk at this 
season. I have changed cows two or three 
times for this reason, but I have the same 
result. It seems the trouble must be with 
surroundings or food, but I try to have 
them all right. This cow will come fresh 
in March. Last year, which was the first 
I had her, she was all right; now the 
trouble has begun. She is giving nine 
quarts with fine cream; is fed with good 
hay, shorts and meal. Can it be because 
she has had some frozen grass? If so, 
would not the trouble cease now she is 
only fed in the stall? She only went out 
in the middle of May. w. 
Massachusetts. 
If the milk is bitter when first drawn, 
the trouble is probably either in the 
food or drinking water, most likely the 
latter. Change the drinking water for 
a few days, and if there is any standing 
water to which the cow has access, con¬ 
fine her where she cannot get to it. If 
this does not correct the trouble, try a 
complete change of food, transferring 
the cow to another stable for a few days, 
if necessary. If change of either drink¬ 
ing water or food does not remove the 
bitterness, or the milk becomes bitter 
after standing, give special attention to 
cleanliness both in the stable and the 
milk-room where the milk is set. All 
utensils should be thoroughly scalded 
each time after using. A little investi¬ 
gation should soon enable you to locate 
the source of the trouble. Also see Bit¬ 
ter Milk, page 369 of Tiie R. N.-Y. for 
May 13. 
Some Ailing Horses. 
What ails my horses? I have a 13-year- 
old mare that grew thin in flesh the past 
Summer, but is improving somewhat now, 
though not as she should. I feed corn and 
coin fodder. If she lies down and is not 
in a good position for getting up, it is very 
difficult for her to raise herself. She has 
a good appetite. My four-year-old mare's 
ankles began to swell during the night 
some time past, now they are swollen up 
above the hock (hind legs only), and her 
feet around the hoof are all sore up to 
pastern joint, with whitish water oozing 
out all around, and they are very painful. 
She does not thrive. I feed her well on 
same feed as the other mare, and enough 
to keep any horse fat. Both horses’ hind 
feet are affected the same, but the old one 
not so badly. I bed them well, so as to 
keep them clean and dry What can I do 
for them, and what is the trouble? The 
old mare has always been all right until 
this Summer; now she seems to be weak 
in the back or loins. f. n. w. 
Verdiersville, Va. 
Give the old mare one of the following 
powders in her feed night and morning: 
Powdered dry sulphate of iron and nux 
vomica, of each eight ounces; gentian 
and ginger, of each 16 ounces; mix, and 
divide into 32 powders. 
For the grease-heel apply and rub well 
in twice daily an ointment of vaseline, 
three ounces; oxide of zinc, one ounce; 
iodized phenol, one drachm; mix. If 
there is much swelling or fever in the 
legs they may first be bathed with a 
solution of four drachms of acetate of 
lead in a quart of water, then when dry 
apply the ointment. 
Both animals are evidently out of 
condition, and should be given special 
attention both as to care and diet. The 
corn should be replaced, in part at least, 
by some lighter, less heating grain, as 
oats or Wheat bran. Roots or an occa¬ 
sional bran mash should be given to 
keep the bowels open. The stable should 
be clean, dry and comfortable, and the 
air pure. Filthy, close stables are espec¬ 
ially favorable to a debilitated condition 
and grease. Daily exercise is very de¬ 
sirable, but the horses ought not to be 
worked or allowed to run in the mud 
or a filthy yard where the legs will be¬ 
come soiled. 
THE BEEF CATTLE BUSINESS. 
If the proper care is taken in selection, 
either one of the three great beef breeds 
(Short-horns, Herefords or Polled An¬ 
gus) will pay a good per cent as an in¬ 
vestment. Of course, such results can 
only be accomplished where proper care 
is given, and a liberal amount of grain 
and grass, or their equivalent. There 
are many farmers throughout the east¬ 
ern States who are not entirely satisfied 
With their present condition. Many of 
them have been breeding dairy cattle 
and other small stock. Now that the 
business is overdone, and we have such 
an immense production of butter and 
cheese, they are looking to other lines 
for investment, and many will naturally 
turn to the production of beef. 
Of course the small farmers of the 
East cannot feed and graze large herds 
of cattle; hence they must of necessity 
confine their operations to the raising 
of the best class of animals, such as the 
great West and South need for the im¬ 
provement of their native herds. How¬ 
ever, let us not be blinded into the be¬ 
lief that anything will do for this trade. 
The great State of Texas is to-day call¬ 
ing for registered cattle, and from all 
over the West comes the same cry. Not 
only is the purebred in demand, but he 
must be a good individual as well. This 
is the reason why some cattle bred and 
fed in Texas recently brought from $6.35 
to $6.75 per 100 pounds on the Chicago 
market. The long-horns of Texas are a 
thling of the past, and to-day in Indiana 
we are selling more and better bulls for 
the southern and western trade than we 
are selling to our farmers here at home. 
This simply means that it is almost im¬ 
possible for feeders to find a desirable 
lot of cattle. The long-horns are leav¬ 
ing Texas and we are finding them scat¬ 
tered over the East and the Middle 
West. We find them also in our regis¬ 
tered herds, registered scrubs, if you so 
please to call them, but this condition 
is unnecessary, and can and should be 
remedied. 
All of our farmers are not suited to 
raise purebred cattle, but every one of 
them can, and should, have a registered 
bull, and one that is individually as good 
as his breeding. There is a feeling 
abroad which I can call nothing but 
false economy; the average farmer and 
stock-raiser will say that he cannot 
afford to buy such high-priced bulls. I 
know of a man who bought a registered 
bull, a good one, for which he paid $300. 
In his first crop of calves he had 20 
heifers and 30 steers. These heifers he 
sold as long yearlings (having kept and 
fed them through one Winter) at $4 per 
100 pounds, and they averaged 1,000 
pounds, or $40 each. At that time fair 
heifers, such as he would have raised 
from an ordinary bull, were selling at 
$2.75 to $3 per 100 pounds, and such 
heifers would not weigh more than 700 
pounds. Here is a premium of $10 per 
head for quantity and $10 per head for 
quality, or $20 per head, and as there 
were 20 animals, the difference in favor 
of the good bull would have been not 
less than $400 on these 20 heifers, to say 
nothing of the 30 steers in the first 
year’s cr®p of calves. Let us do away 
witih that erroneous idea that it is econ¬ 
omy to buy an 'inferior bull because he 
is cheap; such animals are never cheap, 
and to-day (when the cattle industry is 
being given such an impetus by the 
great shortage of beef cattle), good 
young bulls can be had from $100 to 
$300, from reliable breeders. 
To the man who thinks of starting a 
purebred herd, there has never been a 
better time for buying first-class fe¬ 
males, as well as males. The National 
Breeders’ Association, which met in 
Chlicago recently, was well attended, and 
all of the meetings enthusiastic. New 
life and energy has been added to some 
of the associations, and the outlook is 
indeed flattering. j. iiammond. 
Greencastle, Ind. 
The Midland Farmer says that, although 
a young calf does not know much, it 
knows more than any of us did at the 
same age. 
The fine for shipping game out of Dela¬ 
ware without a license is $500 for each bird 
or animal. The Philadelphia Record says 
that a Delaware detective found 10 rab¬ 
bits in a crate labeled “eggs,” which had 
been shipped from that State to Philadel¬ 
phia. This lays the shipper liable to a fine 
of $5,000. 
Cough in Cows.—We have two milch 
cows that are troubled with a cough, which 
we have noticed for some time. It seems 
to be getting worse, and the cough seems 
more frequent in early morning and even¬ 
ing. The cows appear to be in good health, 
and are in good flesh, not exposed to rough 
weather, and are fed on corn fodder, bran, 
shorts, beets, and have pasture, when fit 
to be out. o. h. m. 
Indiana. 
The cough you describe is very sug¬ 
gestive of tuberculosis. If you have a 
competent veterinarian near you I would 
advise having the cows submitted to the 
tuberculin test for tuberculosis. f. l. k. 
The Omaha market for range horses is 
said to be better now than for five years 
past. It is considered that a good de¬ 
mand will last all Winter for fat branded 
horses weighing 1,000 pounds and upwards. 
Any animals thin in flesh should not be 
shipped. 
' Southdown Pedigrees.— After January 
1, 1900, no pedigrees will be accepted for 
registry in the American Southdown Rec¬ 
ord excepting those of the immediate 
descendants of animals heretofore record¬ 
ed. Under the rules now in force animals 
that are purebred, and tracing in a'.l their 
crosses to flocks of reputable breeders in 
Great Britain, or to those already record¬ 
ed, provided their sires and dams, grand- 
sires and granddams are eligible and are 
also recorded, will be accepted for registry 
until January 1, 1900. 
Artificial Eyes.— Are there artificial 
eyes that can be used for a horse whose 
eye has been hurt? Where can they be 
bought, and what would they cost? j. p. 
Howes Cave, N. Y. 
Artificial eyes are made for the horse, 
and are occasionally used in city practice. 
They can be obtained from John Reynders 
& Co., of New York City, or from Hauss- 
man & Dunn, of Chicago. The hard- 
rubber eyes cost about $1.50, and are the 
most durable. Solid glass eyes cost $3 to 
$3.50. F. L. K. 
Lonic Sheep.— An English agricultural 
paper, Farm and Home, discusses this 
breed, which appears to be entirely un¬ 
known in this country. The breed is sup¬ 
posed to be native to Scotland or northern 
England; it is now chiefly confined to the 
hilly or moorland districts of Yorkshire 
and Lancashire. It is a black-faced 
horned breed, bred for both mutton and 
wool. The value of the Lonk appears to 
be its hardiness, and the fact that it sub 
sists on high poor land, where no other 
stock thrives. The Lonk mutton is rather 
lean, and is improved by crossing with 
Scotch Black-faced sheep. 
The Brood Mare. The condition of the 
mare determines the health of the colt. Do 
not look for a vigorous foal from an improperly 
fed dam. She must have sustaining food and 
plenty of it. Victor Corn and Oat Feed is rich 
in the necessary elements. It is proporly bal¬ 
anced and does not heat the blood. It is kiln- 
driod and is the host feed for the brood mare. 
For full information,address Science Dept . 
THE AHKHIlAV CERE/I I, CO., 
1339 Monudnock Itldg., Chicago, III, 
CONSULT OUR SCIENCE DEPT. 
Cost a Little More, But! 
A Sharpies Farm 
Cream S e p a r a t o r 
may cost just a very 
little more than others, 
but it’s worth many 
times more. A $75 ma¬ 
chine that lasts but a 
year, is over seven times 
as clear as a $100 ma¬ 
chine that lasts ten 
years. That is Avhy we build the best 
farm separator that money and brains will 
produce. Send for Catalogue No. 25. 
The Sharpies Co., P. M. SHARPLES, 
Canal & Washington Sts., West Chester, Pa., 
CHICAGO. U. S. A. 
It I>oes Pay. 
I have used Bowker’s Animal Meal for hens, and 
am well pleased with it, and think It pays. 
Athens, Pa. Thomas Chapman. 
NEW 20TH CENTURY 
CREAM SEPARATORS 
Sept. 1st marked the 
introduction of the Im¬ 
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“ Baby” or “ Dairy ” sizes 
Of De Laval Cream Sepa¬ 
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Seud for new catalogue. 
THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR GO. 
Randolph & Canal Sts., I 74 Cortlandt Street, 
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Meat smoked in a few hours with 
KRAUSERS’ LIQUID EXTRACT OF SMOKE. 
Made from hickory wood. Cheaper, cleaner, 
sweeter, and surer than the old way. Send for 
circular. E. KKAUSElt &. BKO., Milton, I’u. 
DR. LEAVITT'S 
Dovble Power 
DEHORNING 
CLIPPER.—V-blade. 
Leavitt SMfy Co, Hammond,III. U.S.A 
A. C. BROS1US, COCHRANVILLE, PENN. 
Newton’s fiflW rryp 
Improved " A IJCi 
Holds them firmly, draws 
them forward when lying 
down, pushes back when 
standing, gives freedom 
of head, keeps them clean 
E. C. NEWTON CO. 
Batavia, Ill. CatalogueFre« 
Top Pries Butter. 
The kind that a fancy private 
trade demands, is colored with 
Thatcher’s Orange Butter Color — 
the color that does not contain 
any poison. Send for a sample. 
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THE CHAIN HANGING 
CATTLE STANCHION. 
The most practical and humane Fastener ever In¬ 
vented. Gives perfect freedom of the head. Illus¬ 
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Manufactured by O. H. ROBHRT80N, 
Forestvllle, Conn. 
Cows barren 3 years 
MADE TO BREED. 
Moore Brothers, Albany, N. Y. 
100% a Year is Big interest 
but that is what many users of the 
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