The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-31
CHE FARM.
The Signs Of Health in Stock.

language, and as certain signs pre-
sented by the external surface Of
the body, by the animals behavior,
constitute the only indications OF
health or disease, a diligent study
and a close observation of animal
life under different circumstances
and surroundings, or while the va
rious organs of the animal body
each In It's proper sphere and rela-
tlOn-have an occasion to exercise
their functions, constitute the only
thing which enables us 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 con-
Stunning its food and while the same
is at work, while at rest and while
excited etc. An experienced OBJ
erver will thus be able to discover
deviations from a perfect state of
health, before any plain symptoms
Of disease have made their appear
ance.
Some of the signs indicating a
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 OF not, it will not
be necessary to enumerate all the
signs or indications by which good
health may manifest its presence.
To mention the principal and con-
spicuous ones will suffice.
SIGNS PRESENTED BY THE ENTER
NAL SURFACE OF THE BODY.
The skin of a healthy animal is
soft and mellow, clean, or free from
scurfs and old epidermic scales, and
presents, if not augmented, or nat
urally dark. colored, a pink or pale
se-red color. The coat of hair is
sleek, glossy, smooth, and is shed
at the proper time. If the animal
is a sheep, the wool is soft, glossy,
elastic and firm. The condition of
skin and hair is the mole important,
as it constitutes one of the most
conspicuous signs indictive 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
a dry, stiff, inelastic, tight, or hide
bound appearance, and is covered
with scurfs II epidermis scales, or
exhibits, if not augmented, any
other than a pink color, are deci-
dedly not healthy. Neither are
animals which lose their hair out
of season, nor sheep that lose their
wool. Even hogs which lose their
hair or bristles In consequence of
being fattened, cannot be consider
ed as being perfectly healthy in a
strict sense, because the loosening
and losing of the hair or bristles
is caused by a fatty (morbid) de-
generation of the bulbs, or roots of
the hair.
The temperature of the body is
uniform in a healthy animal, with
the exception of the extremities-
the feet, the horns and the cars
which ale 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. Dryness and warmth in these
parts indicate fever and disease. A
certain degree of corpulence is also
a requisite of good health. Rumi-
mating animals must also present a
spacious, well rounded stomach;
and horses with a gaunt body, hol-
low tanks, and thin belly, are sus-
picious Of i'll health, or, at any rate,
of a poor digestion.
THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.
A healthy animal manifests a
vigorous appetite, eats its meals
regularly, greedily, and Will usual
ly not refuse to take some favorite
food after its appetite has been per-
fectly satisfied. Greedy eating,
and a corresponding secretion of
saliva, are good signs; but slow and
tlmid chewing with long teeth, and
kind OF squashing sound, are sus-
picious indications. A hankering
after uncommon and disgusting or
loathsome things, such as wet litter,
manure, dirt, etc., manifested Of
ten by licking dirty walls, managers,
ETC., and a preference of such
things to good and wholesome food,
indicate digestive disorders. A
longing for salt, too much acid in
the stomach, Or want of volumnous
food, constitute the usual causes.
In ruminant animals-cattle.
sheep, etc., the Illumination is of
still greater mpOrtapoo q : ,d;