The Farmers Own Book 23

The Farmers Own Book 23

THE MODE OF ASSISTANCE.

 

The hand should be well greased, then introduced, and the fore-legs of

the calf laid hold of and drawn down, drawing gently at the moment of

the mother’s throes. Care should be taken that the head is accompanying

them. The hand will sometimes be sufficient for this purpose. If the head

cannot be moved by the hand, a cord must be procured with a slip knot at

the end, which is to be moved carefully into the passage, and the mouth

of the young animal being opened, fastened round his lower jaw, the end

of this must be given to an assistant, who should pull gently but firmly

at the moment of the throes, while the operator draws out the feet.

 

Should not this succeed, take two other cords or rope, and fasten one

around each leg--two assistants should pull at the feet and another at

the head; while one ascertains the progress that is made--too much force

should not be used, as the calf may yet be saved. Remember the natural

position of the calf, is the presenting of the muzzel lying upon the

fore-legs. The most usual false position, is the presentation of the

head, while the feet of the calf are doubled down under his belly. A cord

must be passed as before, around the lower jaw, which is then to be

pushed back into the womb. The operator now introduces his hand and feels

the situation of the feet, then fix a cord around each pastern, or about

the knee, and bring them into the passage. The head is next to be brought

forward again by means of the cord; the cords being now pulled steadily

together, it will generally be extracted. Should the calf be dead, and

much swollen, the head may then be opened by means of a knife, so as to

lessen the bulk. When the feet present and the head is doubled under the

rim of the passage, the cords should be placed round the feet, the hand

passed into the womb, and the cord looped round the lower jaw. The calf

pushed farther back into the womb, the head brought into the passage and

the three ropes pulled together. The delivery effected as quickly as may

be without the exertion of more force than is necessary.

 

The last false presentation is the breach--the tail appearing at the

mouth of the shape. The hand is to be passed into the uterus, fasten the

cords around each hock. The calf is then pushed as far back as possible

into the womb, and the hocks are after brought into the passage, the

head placed in the proper position, and the ropes changed if necessary,

and all three cords drawn gently, until the calf is extracted;

considerable force is sometimes needed, but should all be done gently,

with an increase of drawing, until the job is completed. By studying

these cases, the operator will be able to accomplish his object. In all

cases of false presentations, although great force must sometimes be used.

 

The uterus, or calf bed is sometimes protruded and inverted. The case

is not desperate. The part must be cleansed from blood and dirt, and

supported by a sheet, then the operator beginning at the very bottom of

the womb, returning gradually, and with great care, and patience. The

animal should be bled before this is attempted, and the application of

cold water should be used for some time; this will contract the womb, and

render its return more easy. A stick or couple should be passed through

the lips of the shape; in order to prevent its return, and give the

following medicines a few times: Take laudanum 1 oz., sweet spirits of

nitre 2 oz., give in a pint of warm gruel. The protrusion or inversion

of the gut, should be returned the same as in the womb, and a few sticks

placed through the shape.

 

The Cow should in all cases be suffered to lick or clean the calf, as

nature has designed it. The cow and calf will be much happier if suffered

to remain together for several hours, having free access to each other.

The mother should not be exposed to severe weather, immediately after

calving. Should have a few warm mashes.

 

 

THE MILK FEVER.

 

This is a disease which is prevalent amongst Cows in high condition.

 

SYMPTOMS:--Staggering gait, breathing irregular, eyes full and glassy,

the animal reels, is unconscious, the head turned on one side, the

feeling partially lost, the legs sometimes become paralyzed.

 

REMEDY:--Take epsom salts 12 ounces, flour sulphur 4 ounces, ginger ¼

oz., spirits of nitrous ether 1 oz., dissolve in warm water--give one

half of this twice a day, until the bowels are opened, continue until

relieved.

 

 

DISEASES OF THE EYE.

 

Diseases of the eye are generally inflammations, and caused by a bruise

or blow inflicted carelessly.

 

REMEDY:--First bathe the eye well with cold water several times, say some

ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Then use the following lotion. Take 40

grains sulphate of zinc, dissolve in ½ pint soft warm water, and bathe

the eyes until completely relieved.

 

 

THE HOOVE OR BLOWEN FROM PASTURE.

 

CAUSES:--The cause of Cattle becoming bloated, is from being turned into

the pasture in the spring of the year, whilst the pasture is young and

full of sap, the ox or cow eats greedily and rapidly, so much so that

the stomach is unable to propel forward, the portions of food as it is

received, and becomes overloaded and clogged, the food remaining in the

stomach too long. Then comes the great danger; what you can do must be

done at once, or not at all. The symptoms are plain enough, the beast

swells to an enormous extent, the breathing is very laborious, and the

beast is threatened with suffocation from the pressure of the stomach on

the lungs. The animal is lost unless relief is soon obtained.

 

REMEDY:--Relief is sometimes obtained from motion and running the beast

moderately; sometimes from placing tar, or a tar band into the mouth;

sometimes from taking salt and black pepper and throwing it down the

throat; some persons have run a lancet, or pocket knife, into the animal,

at the spot passing through the skin, and the wall of the belly, so as to

enter the paunch; this should be done midway between the last rib and the

haunch bone. Another excellent remedy is ½ oz. Chloride of Lime, put into

a pint or quart of warm water, and put into the stomach, these generally

give immediate relief. There are other remedies, which generally give

relief; such as Lime water--also 1½ ounces of Hartshorn may be given,

with 1½ pints of water, or 1 ounce Sulphuric Ether in 1 pint of water.

The following is plain and simple, and gives relief in almost every case.

This has been used extensively, and always given satisfaction.

 

RECEIPT:--Take two tablespoonsful Rappee Snuff, 1 gill Vinegar, 1 gill

Sweet Milk. Mix well and give as a drench. This has been thoroughly tried

and relieved nineteen cases out of twenty; it is simple and worthy of

attention. No time should be lost in this disease; what you can do must

be done at once, or not at all.

 

PREVENTATIVES:--Every Farmer should adopt the rule, to feed his cattle

the following:

 

Every morning, take 1 pint air slacked lime, 1 pint ground alum salt--mix

well and feed with offal. Every particle of the lime should be slacked.

Adopt this rule and you will have little or no trouble with your cattle.

Dose from 1 to 2 tablespoonsful every morning, in offal before turning

into pasture. Another preventative:--Take ashes, air slacked lime, and

ground alum salt, equal portions, and feed every morning, or if you have

not the lime, the salt and ashes will do well.

 

 

CHOKING.

 

Cattle are extremely liable to become choked on turnips, roots, apples,

potatoes.

 

REMEDY:--Give ½ pint of oil, which will lubricate the passage, then run

gag, or tube, or rod, with a knob at the end, down the throat; this

should be done carefully, so as not to injure the parts. Should you not

give relief by this means, find the position, or place where the apple,

or turnip has lodged. This may be done by pressing carefully along down

the throat; place a block on the one side of the object, then strike a

right smart blow with a mallet, or billet of wood, sufficient to crush

the apple or object to pieces, which will instantly be blown out, and the

animal relieved.

 

 

POISONS.

 

Little can be done in this, unless you have a pump, so as to extract the

poison from the stomach, then follow with physics.

 

 

EMBROCATION FOR BITE OF VIPER.

 

Take hartshorn, spirits camphor, olive oil, equal quantities--mix and rub

the wound, and neighboring parts well, morning and night.

 

One pint whiskey, 1 ounce hartshorn, 1 oz. spirits camphor, ½ pint warm

water should be given to the animal.

 

 

WOUNDS.

 

The first thing is to clean the wound from all dirt and gravel. A good

fomentation with warm water will effect this. If the wound is much

lacerated, or punctured, we must bring them neatly together. If any

portions so torn as to prevent its from doing this completely, they

should be removed with a knife, or sharp scissors; then the edges brought

together by means of passing a needle and strong waxed twine deeply

through them, making two, three or more stitches, half inch from each

other. Then apply the tincture of myrrh and aloes, and bandage tolerably

firm, not so much so as to prevent the circulation. If there should be

proud flesh, the wound must be cleansed with a strong solution of blue

vitriol, and then dressed with the tincture. All wounds should be first

well cleansed, before applying anything on them.

 

 

ANGLE BERRIES OR WARTS.

 

These are little warty tumors, growing on various parts of the skin, and

sometimes on the teats.

 

REMEDY:--The easiest and shortest way to remove them, is to tie a piece

of waxed silk firmly around the base of each, and to tighten them every

day; by means of this, the tumor will drop off, and will rarely grow

again. To make it certain, the parts should be touched with a hot iron

or lunar caustic; the warts should be well scarred, and they will never

appear again.

 

 

THE FOUL IN THE FOOT.

 

The first thing is to examine the wound carefully, and