Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-05
agricultural.
Overlooking.

In striking contrast to the method of
raising calves described in Mr. Jameson S
letter are the following notes b. an Eng
lish writer on high feeding of animals,
and its effects on their flesh as human
food. We are obliged, for want of space,
to condcnse his remarks:
The evil results If over feeding of cat
tie are not so well known as they should
he by the producers of prize animals
Health is the first Importance of both man
and domestic animals.
We eat when hungry. but appetite does
not prove an infallible guide to the choice
of food: still less us it regards its nutri-
tive quality. Hence therefore, hygienic
science is directed to this question. and the
best method of rearing cattle used for
food, has received especial attention, and
should receive etili more.
For this purpose the Smithfield Cattle
Club was instituted in Great Britain i'll
1873, says IN English writer, now more
than rs years ago; hence, says the writer
] visited and examined prize animals in
order to learn their condition, observing
irrespective of breeds; at first, no signs Of
external disease were noted, except in two
DevOns, prize animals, each of which was
suffering from prolaPSus raginp. One of
them looked i'll and laid her head and
neck fiat on the ground like greyhound
j passed on to the pigs belonging to His
Royal lIighness the Prince Consort. which
laid on their sides, rs if endeavoring to
breathe more easily, which was loud, suf
locating and at long intervals. Then was
observed Il short cate ing snore. which
shook the whole body and passed with Il
motion of Il wave over its surface, which
felt cold. How much the heart under
such circumstances must labor to propel
the blood through the lungs and BIO .iy,
The gold medal pigs Of Moreland were in
a worse condition for they not only snored
loud but CAPPED for breath, their mouths
being open us well us their nOstrils dlated
at every inspiration Three pigs of the
black breed were in II similar condition;
all We're commended by the judges
OF the sheep noticed those of the Duke
of Richmond. Il pair of Southdowns, that
looked crestEillen, evidently diseased.
One special lact ofIhe exhibition arrested
attention; and that was the size of th,.
animals compared with their res .ective
ages: bull"cks average from two to three
years; pigs about It year old. When the
size of the animals was severtllv consid-
cred, the short period in which so much
fat or flesh ha,l been produced, | indulged
in physiolo yicll reflect n on the HIGH
pressu work against time which the ill.,
teriEII vital organs, ;ls stomach, or stom-
achs. live, heart and lungs must have
undergone ut IL very early age In regard
to the best method of rearing cattle. what
is most conductive 10 their health, the
medical profession are bat Indirectly con
crrned, but of the tlietetic value of animals
s" Feared for fool, The profession are AMI
should be the immediate overseers and
arhtraiors |, therefore, resolved to in
spect the cOndi ion of such animals after
they are slaughtered. AMI for the purpose
| was admitted into the slaughter house
where tn IS priz, amin us, previously ex-
amined were slaughtered, e. e, tn gold
and silver priZ- winners. After these
animals had been killed, l removed the
heart lungs, liver, etc, for examination.
sparing neither time or expense in pursuit
of facts. touching the condition of healthy
muscle, etc.
Of the afore said sheep, heart, lung and
liver with muscular fibre, the latter were
found changed to oily, fatty matter, in 9th
CT words, all were found to be wholly dis
eased.
Of the pigs. the same was true, the
circulation of the blood having been badly
hin,lered by the unnatural accumulation of
fat; hence II diseased state of the animal
rendering its flesh unfit for human diet.
Of bullocks, Il Devon, the substance of
both ventricles of the heart had undergone
complete degeneration into fatty matter.
The heart of a prize ox-the muscular
fibers of the left ventlicle We're converted
into fat. short horned bullock. the best
of his class,-the left entricle of the heart
had undergone conversion into fat. and
more so in certain portion Of its substance
This animal, not three years old, weighed
$500 pounds and was eatin. 81 pounds of
oilcake day. besiles other feed. The last
animal was Il Devon five years old, that
showed similar heart. Of the in,estines,
within foot of the termination of the
large bowel, WAS II putty-like mass, 1t
inches long, partially surrounding the
intestine consisting apparently of scrofu-
Ioas matter
Such. briefly, was the results of my ex-
animation Under the present system of
rearing and feeding one disease is of
most frequent occurrence-Uiz: conversion
Of the hetrt into fit. In tn s observation,
says our informant. l am supported by the
valuable testimony of Prof Quekett of the
Royal College of Surgeons, who re-exam-
ined the hearts in question, fully confirm
ing my report, as given above.