Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-10-03
LIV { STOCK
IMAGINARY DISEASES OF ANIMALS.

the nature or the QlSeaSc, no nIaltcI io" Is
norant he may be of sucn subjects conse-
quently an examination is always made OF
such cases, and if anything is noticed which
has escaped observation in the healthy con-
ditions, or if real peculiarities are seen, these
are generally associated with the disease
and considered its cause. And, in case the
supposed popularity exists in a single Or
gan. there is a tendency to consider that
similar symptoms are caused by that organ
in other cases where the peculiarities do not
exist; thus, in my first article on the SUBJ
iect. | stated that all cases of loss of appe-
tite with horses are apt to be referred to
lampas, whether there was congestion OF
the palase or not, and that lame back is
treated by cutting the eyes even if known
to be caused by a strain. And this is not
surprising, for people naturally refer all eff
fects to some cause-and such cause must
be within their powers of observation. AS
most stock owners know but little of anato-
my, physiology, or the symptoms to be ex-
pected in different diseases, it is not to be
expected that they can detect the diseases of
deep-seated organs, Or discriminate between
them; consequently they recognize but
few diseases. | have given some examples
of this, and shall now give more.
BOTS.
Perhaps these insects should not be class
ed with the imaginary diseases or causes of
disease !; but so much more is ascribed to
them than they are guilty of, and the at
tempts to dislodge them often produce such
injuries in the affected horses, that | cannot
dismiss the subject without a few words.
Bots, as found in the stomach, are the lar
val forms of several species Of gadtly when
in large numbers, and especially when
hooked to the walls of the sensitive part OF
the stomach, or to those of the intestines,
they interfere with the processes of diges-
ton, and in that way may be a cause of sud-
den and fatal COLES. A very few cases are
recorded by veterinarians where one or two
ofthese parasites had perforated the walls
of the stomach or bowels, and were found
in the abdominal cavity but such cases are
extremely rare, and we can only consider
tatC lIdtJ CteoCS SLFCH Ny "iCIC tlC
stomach was said to be riddled by these par
asites, as errors of observation. The great
majority of COLES have no connection d.
rectly or Indirectly with these insects; collie
is usually the result of indigestion from 9TH
er causes, ofnervous cramps. of hard, i'm
pacted manure-constipation-of conges-
ton or inflammation of the bowels, hernia,
etc, and must be treated according 20 its
nature. The general practice of treating
all forms of collie With agents for the de-
struction ofbots, is extremely irrational, and
causes an immense loss to our farmers each
year. I,have sometimes thought that more
horses die from such treatment than from
all other causes combined. 1t must be re-
membered that, in case Of collie, the stomach
and bowels are either iniiamed or rapidly
approaching this condition, and that we
should be extremely careful in our choice of
remedies. But so far is this principle for
gotten that the most irritating agents are
generally used, and | have known of cases
where even boiling water was poured down
the unfortunate animals throat in the hope
Of killing bots!
HOILOW-HORN.
Turning to cattle, we find here, too, the
same ignorance of their diseases, and the
same blind adherence to the traditions of
the dark ages. With the great mass of our
farmers, cattle have scarcely more than two
Observation-Disclosures and .'wolt-in-the-
tail'-opinions too ridiculous to notice
were it not tor their prevalence and wide
spread character. The horns of cattle are