The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-02-22
Charcoal q Farm Medicine.

Nearly all sick horses and COWS are made so
in the first place by eating improper food, or
too much of it. AS soon as the owner finds any
of his animals sick, it is the common custom
to begin dosing with medicine. eve mustn't
leave the animal to die; we must do some
thing f' and so all manner of hurtful drugs
and poisons are thrust down its throat-saltpe-
tire, copperas, turpentine; etc., quite sufficient
to make any we'll animal sick, or to kill sick
one. ffYoug didn't give the poor thing enough
you should have given it oftener-you can't
expect your beast to get well if you don't DO
more for IN 80
Our rule has always been to give nothing,
unless we know exactly what to do; and in the
meantime attend to every exterior part practi-
cable. If the weather is cold, place it in warm
quarters, avoid all exposure, and attend to pure
air and strict cleanliness. But there is one
medicine that can never do harm, and is COM
monty beneficial. This is pulverized charcoal.
As we have Just remarked, nearly all sick ami
mails become so by improper eating in the hrst
place. Nine times out of ten the digestion is
wrong. Charcoal is the most efficient and rap
id corrective. 1t will cure in majority OF Ca
ses if properly admin nistered. - =
II An example of its use. The hired man
came in with the Intelligence that one of the
finest COWS was very sick, and kind neigh6or
proposed the usual drugs and .poisons. The
owner being ill and unable TO examine the COW,
concluded that the trouble came from over-eat-
ing, and ordered a teacupful Of puiver1zed1
charcoal given in water, It was mixed, placed
in a Junk bottle, the head held upwards, and
the water with it's charcoal poured downwards..
In five minutes improvement was visible, and
in few hours the animal was in the pasture
quietly eating grass. Another instance OF
equal success occurred with a young heifer
which became badly bloated by eating green
fapples after hard wind. The bioat was 50 Sc
we're that the sides were almost as hard as q
barrel. The old remedy salaratus was tried for
the purpose of correcting the acidity: But the
attempt to put it down always caused coughing
and it did little good. Half teaspoonful of
fresh pulyerized charcoal was next given. In
six hours all appearance of bloat had gone, and
the heifer was well.
We disapprove of quackery, where without q
precise knowledge Of the disease, powerful
medicines are given at random, and indiscrlm-
inately. We can only compare such practice
to that of the teamster who, as soon as ne tlnds
that his wagon is broken, Immediately procpres
q quantity of nails, spikes, screws, etc, and
Immediately begins to drive them into an parts
of the vehicle at random, in the hope OF hitting
the right place. The scientific practitioner frst
ascertains what the trouble is, and then goes at
once to apply the remedy to that particular
point. The objection of euackery can not ex-
tend to the use of charcoal, for it can do no
harm, never makes we'll animal sick nor Kills
sick one, and goes directly to the seat of the
trouble in most sick animals and if timely ap-
piled effects cure. What are commonly
termed "colds" in domestic animals nearly al.
ways originate in the first place from deranged
digestion and in connection with cleanliness,
pure air and warm quarters, charcoal will ac-
complish what is desired il. used in time. 1t
maybe prepared on the spot by pounding up
fresh burning embers. from wood fire, in. an
iron kettle; this will make better and fresher
article than old charcoal Country Gentleman