Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-01-06
CHE farm aud fireside.
CARE OF HORSES, HOOFS.

CARE OF HORSES HOOFS.
Lack of moisture is not necessarily cause
of brittleness of the hoof, since the horses of
the desert have the strongest hoofs in the
world, in spite of the excessive dryneSs. A
continued drought is especially dangerous
when it acts on a foot accustomed to abun-
dance of water. Under the action of water,
the horn cells absorb increase in size, and push
each other apart. BY this action, too, some
of the gelatinQus matter that builds up the
horn is dissolved out, and when the hoof is
again allowed to dry, it has lost materially in
it's power of cohesion. The more frequently
the process of soaking and drying is repeated,
the more hurtful it proves to the hoof, which
becomes increasingly brittle and liable to split
up and break off, If, further, this tendency
to brittlenesS has peen inbred through genera
tions of horses kept in climates where the feet
are alternately soaked by drenching rains and
withered by drying suns, the danger is lropor-
tionately increased, and the feet of such a
race of horses are especially liable to splitting
and injury 1t is not habitual dryness that
iniures it is the alternations of rain and
drought While upon this subject it may be
well to note that the evil effects of moisture
NAV be largely warded off by smearing the
moStened foot with imperviOus oily agents
before exposing it to the drying process. In
this way the moisture that has been absorbed
by the horn is retained, the sudden drying and
shrinking are obviated, and the horn remains
elastic and comparatively tough. AS it is Of
ten needful to soak the foot in warm or cold
water, or in poultices in cases of disease, 1t IS
all important that the abOve-named precautlon
should be constantly borne in mind, and that
the softened foot should be smeared through
out with some hoof ointment before it is al
lowed to dry and harden. For this purpose
nothing is simpler nor better than mixture,
in equal parts, of wood tar and whale oil or
lard. This may be smeared on the foot every
other day.
In addition to the changes of weather, the
frequent standing in rotting dung-heaps or the
pools of decompoSing liquid manure, may be
named as causes of brittle hoOfS. In the
dung heap there is not only moisture and
steam soaking and softening of the hoof, but
there is abundance of ammonia gas, which IS
especially calculated to soften, dissolve and
destroy the horn. Rotten manure and putrid
liquors, therefore. are much more injurious
than pure water, muddy pools, or wet clay.
Again, the emanationS OF this Kind are Tar
from conducive to general health, so that they
prove hurtful in two ways-first, by directly
u6SUTONlllS lIlC SuUSldllCC VI UuC oiiV oSS
ond, by reducing the animal vigor, the power
of digestion and assimilation, and the power
of secreting good horn. Standing in such de-
composing organic matter is still more inju-
rious, however, when the animal is confined
to a stall or box, for here the injurious effect
of inactivity is added to the above-named
conditions.
CLEANING COAT COLLARS, ETC.-1st. The
best material for cleaning coat collars and
grease spots of all kinds is pure benzine. The
article is sold at the principal drug-stores III
cities. That used by painters is not pure
enough, and has a very unpleasant odor, which
the pure article has not, and the little which
it has soon disappears; If this cannot De o.
tanned, strong alcohol (ninety-five per centum)
will clean collars very well. A mixture OF
equal parts of strong alcohol and water of
ammonia is also used. A small quantity only
softens and spreads the grease-spot. They
should be applied in sufficient quantity, and
repeated. to not only dissolve the foreign
matter, but to wash it out. Ind. Two ounces
of rock ammonia, two ounces OF alcohol,
one ounce each of spirits of camphor and
transparent soap. Put all together III large
bottle cover with one quart of soft water,
and when well mixed and dissolved, it is
ready for use. Spread the coat on clean
table, take an old nail-brush, or small scrub
bing brush, dip it in the mixture and scrub
the dirt parts thoroughly. Apply plenty OF
this. then take clean warm water and go over
it again. Hang it out until partly dry, and
press with heavy iron on the wrong side.
How TO TREAT A HORSE.-A horse cannot
be screamed at and cursed without becoming
less valuable in every particular 10 reach
the highest degree of value the animal should
be perfectly gentle and always reliable, but II
it expects every moment that 1T is in the mar
ness to be ''jawed" at and struck, 1t will be IN
constant state of nervousness, and III its
excitement as liable, through fear, to do
something which is not expected, as to go
along doing what you started it to do. 1t is
possible to train horse to be governed by the
word of mouth almost as completely as 1t is to
train child, and in such training the horse
reaches it's highest value. When a horse IS
soothed by the gentle words of his driver-and
we have seen him calmed down from great eX-
citement by no oti er means-lt may be fairly
concluded that he ) valuable animal for all
practical purposes and it may be certainly
concluded that the man who has such power
over him is a humane man and sensible one.
But all this simply means that the man must
secure the animals confidence. Only in ex-
cious. If he understands his surroundings and
what is required Of him, he gives no trouble.
A HINT TO SUFFERERS FROM NEURALGIA.
Several evenings since | was attacked with Il
severe dental neuralgia. After reSOrtlng to
friction, cold and hot applications, ETC., with
out obtaining any relief, / lay upon my bed,
trusting that sleep might come and give me re-
spite. Still the eXcruciating pain continued,
and while was suffering the ''tortures of the
doubly damned,' - undecided whether to arouse
some tired druggist for a bottle of chloroform
or chop my head off, with a decided prefer
ence. however for the chlorOform,) | suddenly
hethought me of what had read of al an;pS-
thetic which we always carry with us. There
upon began to initiate my lungs to their ut
most capacity, and then forciby blew out all
the air that 1 could. Immediately the pain
began to lessen, and after Il few repetitions OF
the process, it had entirely ceased, being dis
placed by delightful tickling sensation III the
gums, and furthermore | know not, for in less
awakening next morning delightfully."- refreshed
and without symptom of my alment left.
Hence, you see, was not simply temporarily
but entirely we'll again. wish other
sufferers would try this and report results.
~ If a person swallows any poison what
ever. or has fallen into commissions from hav
ing overloaded the stomach, an instantaneous
efficient and applicable in Il large
number of cases, is Il heaping tea-spoontul
of common salt, and as much ground mustard,
stirred rapidly in teacupful of water, warm
or cold, and swallowed instantly. 1t scarce
ly down before it begins to come up, bringing
with it the remaining contents of the stomach;
and lest there be any remnant of the poison,
however small. let the white of al egg or Il
teaspoonful of strong coffee be swallowed as
.eA.. l,o ;c OF tllncn