The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-31
HOUSEHOLD AND FARM.

lBoston Cultlyator.l

tory things WnlCh tne common FARMER Is caiIeu
upon to DO, is to doctor SICK animals; and yet
during the course Of the year many of the do
nestle animals are sick, and need doctorlng,
which the doctor must try to do himself or
send away for the regular educated physician,
or the veterinary "Quack' One Of the great
sources of perpleXity IN attempting to treat
sick animals is found IN the fact that they are
never able to communicate their wants and
feelingS and the farmer must grope along IN
utter darkness, fortunate if he stumble upon
remedy that gives relief; and another is due
to the general ignorance of many farmers IN
regard to what is the normal or healthy con-
ditiOn of the animals on the farm. IL may be
that al the west where there are immense herds
of cattle, or among breeders who have large
sum invested IN their domestic animals, that
they make their habits more Of a study than
Is common with small farmers who keep but
comparatively small numbers But we believe
there Is generally little attention paid by farm
ers to TO the health Of their animals, ~hen they
are ,re}}. If they are sick they perhaps notice
it after time, but how many farmers, we
should like TO know, study the habits and pc
Culiarlles Of their cows, horses and sheep every
dav? Who is so familiar with their breath
Ing, appetite, general condition, state of the
bowcs, expressions Of the eye, that they can
at once detect when anything is wrong, and
take advantage Of the first untavOrable symp-
tom IL make that change in diet, or give such
a remedy as will be likely to bring on nor.
maj condition of the system? but yet, just this
is a pGrt Of the farmers business and he should
give some attention to the condition of his ami
mails IN health, the nature Of their diseases,
and the use Of simple remedies, If he would be
well fitted to keep them in health, and to treat
them iItelligcntly if i'll.
First, The farmer should be so well ac-
Quaintcd with the general, healthy condition
of his farm animals that he would at once
know the first appearance of their being out of
condition The pulse should be observed in
health This may be noticed IN the horse on
the cord which runs across the bone OF the
lower Jaw lust in front of the curved portion
or on the 6ony ridge which extends upward
from the eye, or inside the elbow. In cattle 1t
is conveniently found over the middle Of the
first rib or beneath the tail, or on the artery
passing over the ankle joint. Generally, in all
the domestic animals the pulse may be found
wherever a considerable artery passes over a
bone obllquely-ln sheep the best place being
at the middle of the inside OF the thigh In
the horse, when in perfect health there are
forty beats per minute; in the OK from fifty to
fifty five; IN the sheep and pig from seventy
five to eighty. Particular condltions-as close,
hot stables, or the effects of full feeding, will
cause some variations in the frequency Of the
beatingS. The above named are believed 10
be the actual normal beats
Second, The breathing, next to the pulse, is
one of the most important things to DC noticed,
One who has given even slight study to this
feature will at once distinguish the rapid, la
bored irregular breathngfr from the steady, uni
form, gentle sound which is the result OF
healthy breathing. In regard to the sound of
the lungs, a little practice will soon give one
good guide as TO health, provided he wishes
to be thus minute Place the forefingcr of the
left hand firmly on the chest, and tap itsmart-
ly with the ends of the three first fingers OF the
right hand. Notice the sound, and then make
the same test upon the solid thigh, and notice
the difference In congestion pneumonia)
and pleurlsy the lungs become solid, and the
method stated Will enable one, with some prac-
tlce, to detect the very first approach of such
diseases But rs to breathing, the heaving of
the chest is q good index, and this can be east
ly counted. When the animals are at rest and
in health, n horse will heave the chest from
nine to twelve, and the OK from eleven to fit,
teen times in a minute.
Third While the above, in connection with
the appetite "a failure OF the appetite being one
of the Surest, though not always one of the
first, indications of lllness) are the leading
things to be noted, there are indications or con
ditions about the heat of the body, the general
appearance of the skin and hair, the different
positions assumed by the animals, which are
something OF a guide to It's health. \ person
who handles cattle a good deal is able to tell
much of their condition from touch Of the
SKIN on the inside Of the ears on the legs, al
the flank, and other parts of the body. He
will also observe the difference between soft
plabc "touch" and one which seems rigid
and "hide bound" If one cares to be some
what skilled in the matter, he should procure
,Io1,, hon ata hall nj
which may be exposed at will. To ascertain
the Temperature of the blood, insert this into
the rectum few inches. The blood Of all do
nestle animals in health is uniformly at IS :
If there is a variation from this 1t Is IL sure IN
dlcation of disease, In healthy condition, AMI
mails that are well fcd-as all animals shOld
pe-are invariably quiet They Craze in the
pasture and lie down, or fill themselves at the
manager and remain quiet But if out of con
dlton animals are constantly changing posi-
tons, and exhibiting every indication of pain
or uneaslness. The appearance of the muzzlc
in neat cattle is also an indication Of condition
In health it is always moist, or covered with
"dew," as it Is termed but if the animal is i'll
the muzzle is dry and either hotter or colder
than is natural
These are things which the ordinary farmer
should become thoroughly acquainted with
and on all these matters he should possess gen
eral intelligence. The normal condition Of hi:
farm animals should be made a study. Wher
it comes to the exact location Of diseases anC
their treatment 1t is then the farmer may neeC
higher knowledge and greater skill than he is
supposed to possess hut by following the IN
dications noted above he may be able to readi
" know Just when that period is reached ant
thus lose no time in calling assistance.
One point may be reasonably urged upoI
the attention OF most farmers and that is
greater familiarity with their tlecks and herds
Why should sheep forever run from their mas
ter? Why should he not be able to call then
all to HIM in the largest pasture upon the farm
Why should the heifer or the steer be wild AM
unapproachable? Why should not the faith
nl,,-n,-- hn rn,rrh. r,nsfrnro