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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
October  10.  1901. 
Home  Doctoring  of  Live  Stock. 
TIi ou  slialt  not  kill,  but  do  not  strive  officiously  to  keep  alive. 
A  new  rendering  of  the  old  commandment,  and  a  render¬ 
ing  that  wants  looking  into  carefully,  for  there  is  much 
truth  in  it.  Officiously — in  an  intermeddling  manner — i< 
the  dictionary  definition.  There  always  are  quite  as  many 
officious  folks  about  as  apathetic  ones,  and  it  is  quite  an  open 
question  which  class  do  the  most  harm.  We  have  known 
old-fashioned  doctors  much  blamed  for  leaving  things  to 
Nature — giving  Nature  a  chance,  for  Nature  is  a  wonderful 
doctor.  Many  of  the  younger  men  of  the  modern  family 
prefer  to  be  always  doing  ;  they  can’t  rest  without  taking 
action  of  some  sort ;  but,  mind,  these  are  the  young  ones. 
They  are  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  see  the  effect  of  their 
medicines  ;  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  use  the  surgeon’s  knife. 
Their  action  must  not  be  confused  with  the  promptitude  of 
their  seniors ;  it  springs  from  quite  a  different  line  of 
reasoning.  These  men  mean  well  and  in  time  will  settle 
dowm  quietly.  But  why  this  talk  of  doctors  1  Because  we 
all  more  or  less  practise  a  bit  on  our  own  account,  possibly 
on  ourselves  or  our  families.  We  don’t  know  man  or  woman 
who  has  not  a  list,  more  or  less  long,  of  favourite  remedies, 
all  infallible  and  all  of  the  utmost  value !  Whatever  else 
we  can’t  do,  we  can  advise  and  treat  many  of  the  daily 
ailments  of  mankind.  In  a  remote  spot  in  the  back  settle¬ 
ments  of  America  we  should  be  useful,  valued  members  of 
society,  but  in  closely  populated  England  our  services  are 
not  so  requisite. 
What  a  field  for  action  there  is  for  a  man  on  a  farm,  and 
his  patients  can’t  retaliate  except  by  ultimately  dying ! 
There  is  such  a  variety  of  live  stock,  and  all  subject  to 
ailments  more  or  less  severe,  that  an  energetic  man  can 
constantly  find  a  job.  It  is  only  a  rtity  the  knowledge  is 
not  sounder.  It  might  oe  sounder  in  the  future  if  the 
young  men  who  have  to  do  with  live  stock  (farmers’  sons  or 
employes)  would  only  attend  and  listen  intelligently  to 
some  of  the  veterinary  lectures  delivered  up  and  down  in 
the  country  under  the  auspices  of  the  County  Technical 
Instruction  Committee.  In  our  mind,  the  first  step  in  the 
right  direction  would  be  to  banish  all  nostrums  and  extra¬ 
ordinary  old  wives’  recipes  from  stable  and  cowhouse.  Some 
of  them  are  so  wonderful,  and  on  the  very  face  of  them  so 
preposterous,  that  they  are  only  trusted  to  by  the  most 
ignorant  of  persons,  and  it  is  these  persons,  alas  !  who  often 
have  the  most  to  do  with  live  stock.  They  fearlessly  employ 
potent  drugs,  the  nature  and  properties  of  which  they  have 
not  the  faintest  idea.  Someone  as  ignorant  as  themselves 
has  furnished  the  formula  ;  it  smells  strong  and  nasty,  and 
therefore  must  be  efficacious. 
A  farm  is  a  manufactory  for  producing  various  kinds  of 
live  stock.  There  is  always  a  risk  with  live  stock,  and  a 
•certain  percentage  must  be  deducted  before  any  calcula¬ 
tions  for  profit  can  be  come  at.  If  the  death  rate  rises  above 
a  certain  figure  there  is  no  profit  left  at  all  ;  it  is  well  if 
the  farmer  gets  off  without  actual  loss.  Such  being  the 
case,  he  is  naturally  anxious  to  kee~  the  casualty  list  as 
low  as  possible,  and  therefore  in  cases  of  ill-health  is  pre¬ 
pared  to  go  to  some  expense  and  trouble  in  doctoring.  It 
is  said  there  never  was  a  litter  of  pigs  yet  without  a 
wreckling,  i.e.,  a  weakling — one  that  did  not  thrive  as  the 
others — and  it  is  impossible  to  see  a  flock  of  lambs  absolutely 
even.  The  breeder  of  calves  acknowledges  the  same  fact. 
There  are  some  that  take  kindly  to  food  and  turn  every 
ounce  to  good  account,  and  there  are  others  equally  well 
bred  who  refuse  to  assimilate  what  they  get.  There  may 
be  constitutional  delicacy.  There  may  have  been  a  throw 
back  when  young,  a  weak  digestion,  a  bad  attack  of  scour, 
or  the  germs  of  the  dread  tuberculosis. 
Of  course,  the  ailment  mav  be  only  temporary,  and  by 
all  means  try  the  best  remedies  available — richer  food, 
stimulating  medicines,  and  anything  else  that  suggests 
itself.  But  do  not  go  on  tinkering  too  long.  If  good  results 
do  not  follow  quickly  cast  up  the  cost  of  the  “  extras,”  and 
you  will  find  the  job  is  not  a  paying  one.  The  animal  does 
not  improve,  it  is  an  eyesore,  and  takes  up  the  room  and 
more  than  the  attention  that  is  bestowed  on  a  healthier 
animal.  If  at  all  fit  for  human  food  kill  and  dress  ;  the  first 
loss  is  the  least.  In  the  case  of  animals  of  small  intrinsic 
value,  if  there  should  be  an  outbreak  or  anything  at  all 
infectious,  kill  and  bury  in  lime  at  once.  Here,  again,  the 
first  loss  is  the  least.  People  do  not  always  realise  the 
danger  of  a  disease-infected  animal.  We  remember  once 
seeing  three  or  four  wretched  lambs  in  a  paddock  that  were 
being  treated  for  scab.  Had  they  been  perfectly  whole  and 
sound  their  value  might  have  been,  say,  £l  each.  As  it 
was  they  were  miserable  objects,  and  were  infecting  all  the 
woodwork,  &c.,  of  the  field  in  which  they  were  placed,  and 
this  was  in  a  paddock  adjoining  the  homestead  that  would 
be  constantly  in  use.  Anyone  who  knows  anything  of  the 
nature  of  sheep  scab  will  agree  with  us  in  our  views  as  to 
the  highly  infectious  nature  of  this  ailment.  The  subject 
is  in  a  state  of  constant  irritation,  and  tries  to  get  relief  by 
rubbing  against  any  strong  thing  in  its  way,  and  the  disease 
is  conveyed  in  particles  of  infected  wool  and  bits  of  loose 
scab.  These  will  retain  their  vitality  for  an  immense  length 
of  time. 
Usually  the  value  of  the  pig  is  so  small  that  he  cannot 
afford  to  pay  a  big  doctor’s  bill ;  he  is,  too,  an  awkward,  un¬ 
grateful  patient.  Again,  we  say,  if  there  is  any  flesh  on  his 
bones  make  him  into  bacon  before  he  loses  every  bit  of 
condition.  It  does  not  require  the  eye  of  a  savant  to  tell 
whether  the  meat  is  wholesome  or  not,  and  if  there  is  any 
doubt,  use  quicklime.  There  is  one  thing  to  remember.  If 
you  have  administered  strong  medicine  it  won’t  do  to  kill 
at  once  ;  there  will  be  too  much  flavour  abroad.  When  we 
come  to  horses,  the  case  is  different.  They  are  the  most 
valuable  stock  on  the  farm,  and  their  ills  and  complaints 
are  fairly  well  understood  by  the  better  class  of  “Yets.” 
Personally,  we  do  not  like  much  amateur  physicking  of 
the  horse.  If  he  is  of  any  value  at  all  he  is  worth  a 
doctor’s  care  and  attention. 
There  are  certain  complaints  and  forms  of  lameness  that 
ai’e  practically  incurable,  and  in  any  case  where  there  is 
suffering  we  should  counsel  the  kennels.  It  seems  hard 
that  a  horse  which  has  been  a  faithful  servant  when  at  his 
best  should  be  compelled  to  continue  work  when  aged  and 
worn  out.  Even  if  the  work  given  is  only  slight,  we  confess 
to  a  great  objection  to  see  that  work  done.  In  any  case, 
we  cannot  stint  food,  and  unless  we  are  above  such  petty 
economies  we  had  better  fill  his  place  with  a  sound,  work¬ 
able  animal.  We  wonder  if  it  is  real  kindness  to  turn  old 
horses  out  and  give  them  the  run  of  their  teeth  !  We  believe 
a  speedy  death  after  a  good  working  day  would  be  a  better 
way  of  showing  our  appreciation  than  by  allowing  a  weary 
time  of  lingering  decay.  We  know  there  is  a  good  deal 
of  sentiment  on  such  matters,  but  it  does  not  do  to  allow 
sentiment  to  get  the  better  of  common  sense !  It  is  not 
heartlessness  that  makes  us  advocate  “  the  happy  dispatch  ” 
for  worn-out  horses  and  toothless  dogs  ;  it  is  only  a  humane 
feeling.  There  is  more  true  kindness  in  ending  a  tired 
life  than  in  striving  to  prolong  it. 
Work  on  the  Home  Farm. 
It  has  been  a  grand  wek  for  the  Potato  lifting,  and  the 
crop,  as  well  as  the  work  done,  is  wholly  satisfactory.  There 
is  not  absolute  freedom  from  disease,  but  unsound  tubers  are 
only  occasionally  noticed.  Rumours  of  widespread  disease  are 
still  prevalent  amongst  farmers,  and  they  must  gain  strength 
from  repetition.  Perhaps  the  desire  to  encourage  buyers  gives 
a  fillip  to  these  pessimistic  reports. 
The  opportunity  to  get  the  Potatoes  stored  away  has  been 
very  welcome,  for  other  work  was  becoming  very  scarce.  Lea 
ploughing  is  still  out  of  the  question,  and  although  it  is  raining 
heavily  as  we  write,  nothing  less  than  a  deluge  is  needed  to 
again  start  the  ploughs.  Those  who  are  strictly  corn  growers, 
and  are  in  despair  about  Wheat  sowing,  must  see  with  envy  the 
beautiful  seed-bed  which  is  the  natural  legacy  of  the  Potato 
crop.  The  labour  bill  of  a  Potato  field  is  heavy,  but  there  are 
many  compensations,  and  this  is  one  of  them. 
In  one  deep  soil  district  we  are  informed  that  many  fields, 
after  being  worked  and  cleaned,  are  already  ridged  for  next 
year’s  Potatoes.  This  is  “  up  to  date  ”  with  a  vengeance.  Mar¬ 
vellous  stories  are  current  as  to  the  crops  of  two  new  Potatoes. 
Charles  Fuller  and  Empress.  We  will  verify  them  before  giving 
figures. 
