The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1877-11-08
Common Salt for Cattle.

Considering that common salt is of
all medicinal agents expecting water)
| the most likely to be in every house
hold, and that it is also by far the
cheapest and safest of them, we can
appreciate the Importance of knowing
exactly what effects it is likely to pro-
duce, and in what diseases it may be
be advisable to use it.
Salt owes it's properties to Doth the
elements of which it is composed
chlorine and sodium. Applied to the
Skln or mucuOuS membranes in con-
centrated solution or powder, itcauses
more or less irritation, reddening, and
even a slight blistering if the contact
IS of sufficient duration !; on sores this
action is still more marked and is fol-
lowed with considerable drying and
healing effect. Internally, i'll small
! vansaS III Ngslll7kzlHsa - aass4ee1la14a
cOndiment, increasing the appetite,
and favoring digestion and absorption.
In large or too often repeated dose, it's
irritating action becomes manifest, the
appetite is lost, the thirst excessive,
the mucous membrane of the mouth is
irritated, saliva abundant, the general
appearance detected, uneasiness, signs
OF collie, dogs and pigs vomit, horses
and cattle are soon purged. If the
amount swallowed is sufficiently great,
fatal poisoning is the result, when, in
addition to the symptoms Just men
toned, there is observed a fetid, often
bloody, diarrh9a, quick, hard pulse,
difficult breathing, general depression,
cOldneS OF the entire surface of the
body, weakness and impossi ,ility of
standing, c~Onvuisive movements of
tile limbs, paralysis of the posterior
parts of the body, rapid Weakening
and death. The amount required to
produce these effects is, fo~ c95tle two
and a half to five pounds, horses two
to three pounds, pigs three to eight
ounces, and dogs one to two ounces.
The general effects of sa'S when
given in medium doses, AID during
the early part of its administration,
are stimulant and tonic, anl are be-
sides particularly favorable 10 the ex-
ercise of all the functions OF the BODY /:
thus the circulation is accelerated, the
skin is more supple and moist, the
coat glossy, the urine more abundant,
the flesh firmer, the blood redder, the
strength increased. If. however, the
dose is much increased, or if the adj
ministration is continued beyond the
wants of the body. the effects are en-
tirely changed, and become decidedly
alterant, the blood becomes thin and
pale, and the animal poor ana weak.
From what has already been said of
the action of salt, it is evident that it's
use may be indicated in a considerable
number of diseases. We viii first no.
tice the cases in which it is applied ex-
ternally, and then those in which it is
given internally. AS a lotion for
bruises, whether caused by the har-
ness, by blows, kicks or otherwise, the
saturated solution of salt applied two
or three times a day, leaves little to be
desired. Sprains of the muscles, ten
dons or joints may be successfully
treated in the same manner. or III
practicable a cloth wet with the sClu-
ton may be kept constantly applied.
1t may also be used in cases of lynn
phangittis, i~nfiltrations. dropsical
swellings, and many skin diseases. A
weaker solution, consisting of a tea
spoonful of salt to a glass of water, has
been found exceedingly useful in SUI
perticial Inflammation of the eye.
Internally its local stimulating effect
may be turned to advantage in irregu-
lar and poor appetite, in collie from in
digestion in the horse, in chronic in
digestion of cattle, and in those cases
of depraved appetite in which animals
eat earth, lick walls, &c. The dose for
such purposes may be one to two
ounces for horses, two to -four ounces
for cattle, one-fourth to one-half ounce
for sheep, given either dry OF d~issOlv-
ed in a small quantity of water. Salt
is also believed to prevent the produc-
ton of intestinal worms and in some
cases to remove them. 1t has also
been used with good effects. in about
the doses already mentioned, in an
thrax (black tongue, black quarter,
&C., in blood poisoning from putrid