The daily gazette., 1876-07-07
Charcoal n Good Farm Medicine.

dlt ~ vi thO HitNS ~ =
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 med
icine. HWc musu't leave animals
to die; we must do something"
and so all manner of fhurtful drugs
and poisons are thrust down its
throat-saltpetre, e,copperas, ,turpen-
tine, &c.-quite sufficient to make
any well animal sick, or to kill
sick one. "You 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 it,"
Our rule has always been 10
give nothing unless we knew en-
actly what 10 do; and in the mean
time attend to every exterior COM
fort practicable. If the weather
is cold, place it in warm quarters,
avoid all exposure, and attend to
pure air; strict cleanliess. But
there is one medicine that can
never do harm, and is commonly
beneficial This is pulvcrized
charcoal.
As we have Just remarked near
ly all sick animals become so by
improper eating in the first place.
Nine cases out Of ten the digeS-
lion is wrong. Charcoal is the
most efficient and rapid corrective.
1t will cure the majority of cases
if promptly administered. Anex-
ample ofits use: The hired man
came in with the intelligence that
one ofthe finest cows was vcrv
sick, and a kind neighbor propos-
ed the usual drugs and poisons.
The owner being i'll and unable to
examine the COW, concluded that
the trouble came from some over
eating, and orderd teacupful of
pulverized charcoal in water. 1t
was mixed i'll a Junk bottle, the
head held upward, and the water
with its charcoal poured down
ward. In five minutes improve
ment was visible, and IN q few
hours the animal was in the pas
ture quietly eating grass. Another
instance OF equal success occurred
with young heifer which had be
come badly bloa,ei by eating
greer apples after IL hard wind.
The bloat was 30 severe the sides
were almost rs hard rs barrel.
The old remedy, salaratus, was
tried 1or the purpose OF correcting
the acidity. But the attempts to
pat itdown ways caused coughing G
and it did little good. Halt a tea
cuptul of fresh pulverized charcoal
was next given. In six hours al
appearance Of bloat had gone, ant
| the hcifer was well.
| We disapprove OF quackcry
lwherc, without precise knowl
edge OF disease, powerful remedie.
are given at II random, and indis
criminately. We can only com
pare such a practice to that of
teamster who, rs soon as he find
his wagon is broken, immediateI,
procures Il quantity Of nails, spike:
screws, &c, and Immediately be
gins to drive them into all part
OF the vehicle at random, in til
hope OF hitting the right place
The scientific practitioner first Il.
certains what the trouble is, an
then goes ut ouce to apply the rem
edy to the-particular poinr
l The object of quackery connot es
tend to use Of charcoal, for it ca
q do no harm, never makes a we
animal sick, nor kills sick on,
goes directly TO the seat oftroubl
in most sick animals, and iftimel
appliee, effects cure. What ar
commonly termed "colds' in don
estic animals nearly always oriI
mate in the first place from deran,
ed digestions and in conuectio
with cleanliness, pure air, an
warm quarters, charcoal will &C
complish what is desired, if use
in time. 1t may be prepared o
> the spot by pounding up fresh bn,
ned embers from wood fire, i
in an iron kettle; this will make
, better and frosher article than oil
charcOal.-COnntrN Gentlennn.