The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-11-09
a9ritulta raj.
Big Head.

reach Of cure. This is not the ag,
for "fail," the very word is fast be.
coming obsolete, and so far from
failing in the cure of Big Head,
am confident that i, is easily and eff.
( fectually reached and removed I'm.
der proper treatment. shall state
no more theory: what | have seer
that will | give.
| Big Head like most grievances in
the horse, is the work of maltreat-
ment. Overlooking with corn, when
the animal is too warm, or under ex-
ira task work, is a very fruitful
source of this disease-big head be-
ing the offspring of fever. Constant
feeding on corn may here be linked
with overlooking in mischief work
ing. Corn is an excellent food for
horSe-but all corn is a very bad
one.
Big Head is frequently caused by
Observation-Disclosures produ-
cling fc,ers, and fevers producing
big head. Anything in short, that
will bring about a fever in the horse,
puts him in jeopardy of big head.
SymptomS,-The first symptom
we have of the approach of big head
is general and local weakncSs-the
local weakness being obvious in the
loin and shoulders. If the horse be
made to step over log, or bars, lie
experiences difficulty in lifting his
bind feet over, ard will strike The m
against the log or bars. He will not
bring his hind feet up into the prints
Of his fore feet in walking, will, in
travelling, put his hind feet down
with more than usual force. Butthe
shoulders are the seat of more pal
ble and dangerous Sy mptoms. They
seem to sink down from the with
crS, pro je citing forward at the points
and leaving the breast very sunkcn;
soon a case Of sweeney obtains, the
animal shows great clumsiness in
the movement Of lis fore legs
thruStS his feet forward while stand
ing-raises them alternately from the
ground, as though great uneasiness
was felt in the shoulders. These
are the symptoms of big head; and
if the noble animal is to be assalle d
with that ugly grievance, it vii now
begin to develope itself, by an en-
largemcnt of the leaders passing up
each side of the head. This swell
ing increases sometimes slowly,
sometimes rapidly, according TO the
character ofthe case. This enlarge
mcnt may be considered as a case
of congestion. obStructing the free
healthy circulation of the blood
The swelling continues until tie
head becomes enormous a "big
head" indeed. Soon the bone be-
comes participant in tie disease
which is then fully developed; and
the noble animal stands before us a
lrightfuI object to look upon.
Tre0tmeHh-Our chief reliance
is on local treatment, through the
medium of counter irritation, the
quickest and most efficient way to
remove congestion or inflammation.
For this purpose we have the great
est reliance on the following mix
ture take of str ne ashes, one gal
Ion; of common soft Soap, one quart;
Of spirits OF turpcntine, one pint ; OF
spirits of camphor, one pint ito
which add a quantity Of strong salt
water to form the whole into a Sof,
muSh. Heat this to boiling, and APP
ply it to the swollen leaders in the
following manner, as directed by ar
able ana experienced farricry:
Gill horn with half the boiling
muSh, place tina cloth over its
mouth, and grasp the horn and cIotl
near the small end. so that you may
be able to conlinc the cloth. Apply
the horn with muSh in it, to the dis
part of the head, having nothing but
the Tin cloth between the head anC
the boiling mass. After holding il
to the head about five minutes, tax e
away the horn, empty it and renew
with the boiling muSh, and apply a'
before, and continue the operation
until each side of the head has beer
bathed six times.
Having thus batled the head will
the mush, we must then dress tn,
parts with the yolks of four eggs mix
ed with as much salt as they will in
corporate. This dressing must b,
done once a day for two or thre,
weeks, by applying the salve to thu
blistered surface.
Whilc the above is being in opc
ration, the horse must be vigorouSl,
treated for swe-ny. Mr.. Cheek ol
this head remarks: If the big Shout
der or swceny accompany this dis
ease (big head with a pair ofsmith'
tongs, or pincers, raise the skin i