The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-11-15
Signs OF Health i'm Stock.

uciLS well VI III ny iucIIts VI ldLSudSc,
and as certain signs presented by the
external surface Of the body, by the va
rious processes of life, and by the ami
mails behavior, constitute the only in
dicatiOns of health or disease. Il dill
gent study and a close observation of
animal life under different circumstances
and surroundings, or while the various
organs of the animal body-each in its
proper sphere and relation-have an
occasion to exercise their functions,
constitute the only thing which enables
lis to decide whether an animal enjoys
full health or not. These observations,
therefore, must be made outdoors and
indoors. in the pasture and in the stable,
while the animal is consuming its food
and while the same is at work, while
at rest and while excited, etc. An ex-
perienced observer will thus be able to
discover deviations from perfect state
of health, before any plain symptoms
of disease have made their appearance.
Some Of the signs Indicating state
of good health are, of course, of much
greater Importance than others, and, as
their presence is usually sufficient to
remove any doubt whether an animals
health is good enough for the purpose
for which it is kept or not, it will not he
necessary to enumerate all the signs or
indications by which good health may
manifest its presence. To mention the
principal and most conspicuous ones
will suffice.
SIGNS PRESENTED BY THE EXTERNAL
SURFACE OF THE BODY.
The skin of healthy animal is soft
and mellow, clean, or free from scurfs
and old epidermis-scales, and presents,
if not augmented or naturally dark-col-
Ored, pink or pale rose-red color. The
coat of hair is slick, glossy, smooth,
and is shed at the proper time. If the
animal is sheep, the wool is soft,
glossy, elastic and firm. The condition
of skin and hair is the more important,
as it constitutes one of the most con-
spicuous signs indicative of a state of
good health. Animals which do not
shed their coat Of hair when the proper
season has arrived, on which the skin
presents dry, stiff, inelastic, tight, or
hide-bound" appearance, and is COW
cred with scurf or epidermis-scales, or
exhibits, if not pigmented, any other
than pink color, are decidedly not
healthy. Neither are animals which
lose their hair out of season, nor sheep
which lose their wool. Even hogs,
which lose their hair or bristles in con-
sequence of being fattened, cannot be
considered as being perfectly healthy
in a strict sense, because the loosening
and losing of the hair or bristles are
caused by fatty (nlorbid) degenera-
ton of the bulbs or roots of the hair.
The temperature of the body is uni
form in healthy animal, with the ex-
ceptiOn of the extremities-the feet, the
horns, and the ears-which are usually
a little colder than the rest of the body.
In healthy cattle, the broad tip of the
nose and the upper lip, or muzzle, are
always moist (sweating) and cool. Dry
ness and warmth in those parts indicate
fever and disease. A certain degree of
corpulence is also requisite Of good
health. Illuminating animals must pre-
sent a spacious, well-rounded stomach;
and horses with a gaunt hody, hollow
TANKS and thin belly. are suspicious of
i'll health, or, at any rate, of a poor
digestion.
THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.
A healthy animal manifests vigor-
GUS appetite, eats its meals regularly,
greediiy, and will usually not refuse to
take some favorite food after its appe-
tite has been perfectly satisfied. Greedy
eating and corresponding secretion
of saliva are good signs; but slow and
timid chewing with "long teeth" and
kind of squashing sound, are suspi-
cious indications. A hankering after
uncommon and disgusting or loathsome
things, such as wet litter, dirt, etc.,
manifested often by licking dirty walls,
managers, ETC., and a preference of such
things to good and wholesome food, in
dictate digestive disorders. A longing
for salt, too much acid in the stomach,
or want of voluminous food. constitute
the usual causes.
In ruminant animals--cattle, sheep,
etc., the rumination is of still greater
importance as an indication of the state
of health than the appetite itself. A
healthy ruminant commences to chew
the cud soon after its appetite has been
appeased, and ruminates with certain
degree of alacrity and an apparent feel
ing Of comfort. Thirst, depending
largely upon the quality of the food con-
sumed, upon the temperature of the at
mosphere, upon the kind of work the
animal has performed, and upon the
secretions and excretions going on, is
of less significance than the appetite.
Still, an absence of any desire to drink,
or extraordinary thirstiness, are indi-
cations Of existing disorders.
Ruminants, if compelled to subsist
exclusively on fluid food, mashes, ETC.,
do not ruminate, but cannot remain
very healthy either for any length of
time.
THE ORGANS OF RESPIRATION.
A healthy animal breathes slowly,
regularly, quietly, and without any un-
common or conspicuous exertion. Any
audible, uneasy, forcible or difficult