The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-09-14

FARM AND HOME.
BIG-H HEAD IN HoRsEs.-This disease
which has attracted so much attention
of late is nothing new, but one that APP
pears to follow the westward march of |
corn culture. The Western Rural seems |
to favor this idea in the following: The
disease commonly called big-head is an
enlargement of the bony structure Of
the face, commencing from the hollow
beneath the eyes, and running nearly to
the junction of the nostrils. The opin-
ion Is that it is caused by the mastica-
ton of too much corn when young,
which produces liberation of the roots
of the teeth, when they are not fully
filled or set. The convincing evidence
of this fact is that big-head is seldom
exhibited in any other part of the cOun-
try, except in the States, more especially
in the Western States, rs more corn is
fed there. The symptoms are the en-
largement of those bones of the face that
are of q spOngy character, and If allowed
to proceed, it breaks out in small holes,
and runs thick secretion. Treatment:
Apply in the first stage an ointment
composed of strong mercurial ointment,
two ounces; mix. Apply twice a day,
and give broken doses Of cal0mel and
tartar emetic, or iodide of potash, in
moderate doses, but never the two to-
gether. This is thought to be radical
cure, as there are cases under 0bserva-
ton daily that have been cured by the
same process. Secondary: BY Swinging
the holes with a solution AZ follows
BrOmine, one ounce, water one and q
half pints, and give Alternative treatment
as above.
In book before us, published nearly
forty years since, there is recipe foi
curing this disease, which was then
known in Tennessee under the same
name as at present. The writer says
that he has seen a number of horses
affected with this disease, but never q
mule. As the early settlers in Tennessee
fed whole corn almost exclusively tt
their horses, as many of them do at this
day, we can readily understand how the
disease has been kept alive, If not per
, petuated, by direct hereditary descent
Our veterinarians of to-day, however
would scarcely indorse the treatmen
! recommended for big-head forty year
, ago, for the hot iron was their only re
, course, cruelty which was once quite
in vogue among our farmers for variou
, diseases.
MISCELLANEOUS Uses OF CORN
Though the principal value of maize
due to its nutritive property, ana IL
, highest importance lies in the amour
and quality of the food it supplies, ther
; are vet other and various economics
' purposes for which the several parts Q
: it have been found to be well adapted.
. Many attempts have been made, wit
!, various success, to use the fiber OF cor
!, in the manufacture of paper. The al
tempt, however, in this country, has nc
; thus far been very successful. But i
n Austria a process was discovered fel
years since for making a superior articl
of corn-fiber paper of various grades an
. fine texture. Though ther expense
. the process and other causes Obstructe
:, for while its general introduction, it
- still probable that further improvement
- and the reduction of cost will yet brin
- the article into extensive use.
- This cereal has also, like some Othe
~ of the best gifts of the Deity, been pc
!" verted to some base and injurious use
- In some parts of the West it is employe
> in the manufacture of highwines an
- whisky. But although the amount col
- sumed by the distiller appears large
. the abstract, it is yet relatively SINAI
and dwindles to insignificance whe
viewed in connection with the va
quantities absorbed by other and bett'
uses.
y For soils deficient in vegetable mo-
~ blowing in green crops is found by e.
VI perience to be very useful. When col
+" is used for this purpose, it supplies Il
10 precise material needed, and in quaint
~ ties that can not fail to prove eflectiv
70 Buckwheat and clover are also used II
-, ~ this purpose; but corn supplies a larg'
10 amount of vegetable matter, and is Ofte
Vi preferred on that account.
The hllsks of corn are frequent
r. turned to useful account, by farme
he and others, in making mattresses, f
t; which they are said to answer excee
nc ingly we'll, and are highly commendt
ne by many who have tried them, on Il
~ score of economy and durability, as we
er as comfort.
is In some parts of the West where col
d, is abundant and fuel expensive, farme
e, sometimes find it convenient, as well
economical, to use their surplus crop
ct feeding their fires In coal regions al
I'd well-wOoded countries this necessity IN;
e. not arise. But there are sections of Il
er West where distance from fuel and Il
he absence of railroads make it difficult
ch procure ordinary fuel at anything Ii
,ir ordinary prices.
in 1t is fortunate for the farmer in SUI
he cases that Indian corn can be produc
,ft at such rate of cost, and in SUI
he abundance, that the surplus over al
above all other requirements is suflicie
mt to insure warm and cheerful hear
tn through the long winter evenings.
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