Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-08-15
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H.tue RIOat From Eating wet
nres--Preyentien and cure.


-. .--.ou,. If the death of cattle frora eating
clover while wet with rain. Such accidents
are of very common occurrence. have NY
self had fresh clover pastures every year. ior
many years and formerly lost many valuable
cattle from bioat; of late years not any In
any kind of good, sweet pasture, cattle VIII
end themselves so full as to produce great
t,istepsiou of the stomach. but no bad conse-
ouence results, beyond some brief distress 10
them. But if the grass be very succuient'
and especially if i. be wet with ram or dew
and the weather is very warm, and esPec'aiiy
if salt be given when che grass Is wet, Ter
.,entation of the contents of the stomach some
times take place, and dlstension ensues'
snaed;l fatal to the animal, If not promptly
arrested; early in the season clover Is espe-
c;,iiv dangerous Cattle rarely bloat on 9TH
or kinds of grass though have known an IA
stance of very rank growth of young tlmo-
thy causing bloat. As the season advances
and the clover becomes less succuient and
more woody in its texture, the danger d'min-
ishes until it disappears altogether--EVery
farmer who has clover pasture may observe
that though his cattle, in the carly season OF
nasturage eat the clover with avidity, yet the
fence corners and swales producing June
grass viii be chopped elese to the ground
while the clover is half a knee high. And
ifswaIes and fence corners abound in proper
tion to the number of cattle, no damage from
md; hat
ventative is to supply the cattle with portion
of food not producing bloat. Sowing timothy
seed in large proportion with the clover is
one method Good, sweet hay supplied to
the cattle. in such quantities as they will con-
sumo during the night, while they are yarded,
will efTectually prevent bloat. 1t not only
partially fills the stomach of the animal, thus
diminishing the quantity of clover taken in,
but it neutralIzes and prevents the acetous
fermentation which causes the bloat.
When cattle are first turned iuto clover
pasture in early spring, if they be freely fed
with good hay in the morning no anxiety
need be felt about boat for that day, no mat
ter how abundant and succulent the pastures
may be.-Some cattle ere continually liable
to bloat 1t has been advised to fatten and
slaughter; but 1 have this year young and
valuable COW, having this tendency, that l
have carried through the dangerous season,
simply by giving her at night all the sweet,
early cured hay she could eat.-Visitors have
looked on in wonder, when, near sundown, l
would call the COW from the pasture, to see
the cagerness and avidity with which she
would eat the hay, although full even to dis
tress with the clover; often expressing her
joy at the sight of the hay by prapce and q
caper have several times observed that
when she was so distended by clover so as tc
make me fear for her, that few minutes o.
hay eating would perceptibly diminish the
dstension, and soon her appearance would bt
safe As the clover became woody and les
succulent, her appetite for hay diminished
Salt should be freely given to cattle in elove
pasture, but never when the grass is wet, fo
that often causes bloat. When bloat occurs
a cool remedy is to twist hay band, dip tn
centre of it in tar, insert the tarred part In tn
creatures mouth, and tie tight Behind tn
horns In one instance--a case of ever
alarming bloat in two year old steer
made hole in the paunch on top, just for
wTrd of the hip bone, with long, narro1
knife, and inserted goose quill. The ami
NAL was speedily relieved, and lived to b
slaughtered for beef, months afterward. Pr
vention, however, is better cure. If it
desired at any time to turn cattle unused t
such pasture into clover, it may be done wit
safety by giving them a quantity of brine
hay before turning them in; but never with
out precaution should fresh cattle be turne
into wet clover. Horses rarely bloat, but
horse near me died this spring from distre,
caused by eating clover after shower.-Oh
Farmer.