Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-10-03

and, very early in the life OF the animal, a
cavity begins to form in the bone of the
skull beneath the horn, which extends by
absorption of the bone, reaches the bony
support of the horn and penetrates this, and
continues to enlarge during the life Of the
animal. In old animals there is only a thin
shell of bone with a large cavity inside, di-
vided perhaps by a thin, bony partition, and
lined with an internal periosteum and a del
icate mucous membrane. This is the natu-
raj condition of the horn-a provision for
Tightening what would otherwise bea heavy
and cumbrous structure; and so far from
being a condition of disease it was designed
by a wise Creator as a benefit to the ami
NAL.
Attention was probably directed to the
horns as the seat of disease, because in all
serious troubles there are times at which
the extremities-the ears, horns and limbs
are cold, or alternately hot and cold. By
boring, they were found to be hollow when
it was supposed they should be solid, and it
was, therefore decided at once that they
were the principal seat Of the affection.
Boring the horns causes intense pain, some
thing similar to forcing a gimlet through
the tinger-nail, the tissues beneath, the bone
and the flesh beyond it, and continuing till
the skin is pierced on the opposite side it
cannot be defended from any point of view,
and it is time for such treatment to be abol-
ished in civilized and intelligent countries.
kirnr w r-r . r -
This trouble usually co-eXists with the So
called hollow.horn, and is equally without
foundation as a cause of disease. | have
space to devote a few words to it's consider
alton. Any one examining the tail of a
healthy COW will find the bones, which are
quite large at the root of the organ, gradu-
ally diminish in size till they finally disap-
pear entirely when their place is supplied
by a rather soft, flexible gristle. During
any serious internal disease the circulation
in the tail, as il other extremities, is less
ened, and the part is consequently relaxed
there is even at times a slight dropsical in
filtration which adds to the delusion and
makes it no difficult matter for one to con-
SllNC liilISCl IildlG SOLlC VI LilS DOilCS are re-
ally wanting. Their absence is then ac-
counted for by supposing them to have
been deceived by a hypothetical worm-the
'Wolf." This worm has never to my knowl-
edge been discovered by a veterinarian,
though it is not rare to find ''cow leeches''
who claim to haye removed it. But even
admitting the existence of such a parasite
which [ an far from doing-it could not
cause the general symptoms which are at
tributed to it: it might produce il local in
Illumination, of little consequence at the
most, as we see with the larvae of the estrus
which develop along tie back of cattle, but
no more.
The fact is. the ailments which I have
mentioned are imaginary diseases-in the
vast majority of cases they are merely
symptoms OF the real disease; that they
cannot trace its course or its complications /;
that it requires one with 4 thorough knowl-
edge OF the nature and effects of medicine.
of the makeup of the animal body, and of
tie use and normal activity of every part of
it, to be able to treat animals in q proper
manner. 1t is time the usefulness of a vet
Urinary profession was recognized that eff
forts We're made to provide competent prac-
t%ltioners for every section, and that these be
called upon, as are human practitioners at
the first appearance of serious disease.
When these points are appreciated, we shall
see such cruel and unreasonable practices
gradually give way-and instead of being
killed in an effort to cure, the natural ten
dency to recover will be assisted. and we