Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1842-07-19
a grtrul t uaI.
From The Maine Farmer.
Garget in Cattle.

Garget in Cattle.
Mr. Holmes-I recollect to have seen in the
Maine Farmer, some year or two since communi.
cations from certain gentlemen on the subject of
what is called garget in cattle If nv memory
serves me, there was quite different opinion as
to the existence and the cause of that disease, vet
neither of them, thought |, is right think the
gentleman of Dixmont discarded the idea of such
a disease as garget in cattle. That there is or is
not such disease, is not my object at present to
prove; but would merely say | have no obiec-
tons to applying the name of garget to a certain
disorder In our oxen and cows. 1t has been fire.
quently said when an OK has the garget his limbs
are weak, his skin stiff, his eyes sunken, his nose
dry, and his appetite more or less gone | care
not by what name the complaint is called if can
but find the cause and best cure; but in nv Ian.
guage, say the OK has taken cold, and has now a
fever. What, says the reader, has an OK a fever /?
Yes, really and soberly the OK has a fever Well,
Inever heard of such thing before! o, dear
reader, | have known cases oftbe above described,
which should term a slow fever-also an infa.
matory fever; one case of which will describe.
few years since, farrow COW of mine was
turned out of the barn in the evening, near the
middle OF April, to lie under an open she'd 1t so
happened 1t was the night before southerly rain
storm; 1t happened also that the shed was open
to the south, and the damp wind blew directly in
upon the COW, and at eight o'clock the next morn
ing, she was swollen from her nose to her rump to
an astonishing size, the water was running conf
ously from her eyes, her eyelids hung down over
her eyes like sacks of water, and the skin so ex-
tended as to be almost transparent respiration was
difficult with universal trembling, and no dispo.
sltlon to eat any thing indeed, had she knowledge
and power, | doubt not she would have said, lam
SICK all Orer-for truly that was her appearance.
Well, boys, what isto be done ? | don't know
the COW is sick. Well we will put her into the
barn and cover her with horse-rug and buffalo
this done, heaping spoonful of saltpetre must
be dissolved and turned down her throat; and the
result was, that in about two hours the swelling
abated and she began to eat, and by night she ~
peared well. So much for doctoring the cow
whereas had she been suffered to remain without
medical aid, she would probably have died in two
or three days
L will also mention one case of lung fever
The subject was young OK, heshy and healthy
he was kept in the barn all winter, except when
turned out to water or III the yoke, which latter
case was seldom About the first of April he was
taken out in the yoke, where he remained half a
day without labor, during which he laid upon the
wet ground several hours the next morning
was called to look at him; he was considerably
swollen in his body and much distressed for breath
1t was supposed that the difficulty was in hi.
throat, or that he had drawn something into hi:
lungs. Various kinds of medicine were given
but nothing for fever, and nothing relieved him
In about torty-eight hours after it was known h,
was sick, he died assisted in SHINING and ex
aiming the OK and found the difficulty to hav,
been an inflammation on the lungs, of which h,
died
have been thus particular in speaking of tn,
cases alluded to, not only 10 show the importanc,
of guarding against unnecessarily exposing GU
animals to sickness and suffering, but 10 prepar
the mind the reader to look at what suppos
to be the real cause of what is called garget il
cows. There is by far the most complaint of oar
get in cows soon after they calve and while the,
give the largest quantity of milk Now ever
man of reflection must be sensible that a COW !
most likely to take cold soon after she calves ant
every observing man with stock of cattle, will
learn that they are especially liable to take cold
exposed during cold storms in the spring, summer
and fore part of autumn this being the case, wha
may we more naturally expect, than that cows
having their bags or udders extended nearly to tn
utmost with milk should be troubled with swellin,
and disordered milk, if they are exposed to talk
cold2 Where may we look for cold or fever t
be seated, if not in the part already irrtated an
predisposed to fever, from extreme distenton2
think every man who keeps oxen or cows may
by little reflection and observation be satisfe,
'oa' nearly not all the cases of garget in oxen
COWS, arise from the animals takino cold. br
enough oil this, If we have found out the cause
) Now for the cure. Garget root NAV be river
piece also put in the brisket is beneficial. or nj