The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-03-26
The Sarmer.
Called Shoulders and Back.

James Law, F. R. C. V. s., and Pro-
lessor of Veterinary Science, Cornell Uni
versity, says In the hot months perhaps
no trouble is more annoying than the per
sistent development of sores on the should
ers and backs of horses that are depended
on for the cultivation and harvesting of
the crops. The work must be done, and
the animal is strong, vigorous and hearty,
so that there is no hindrance to his doing
it, except the presence of trit1ing sore at
a point where the harness must rest and
where its application causes exquisite pain.
Nor does the trouble end here, for the
sensitive horse will learn to balk to avoid
the constant and painful pressure on the
sore, and the nervous one will, after some
hesitation, start with spring, which Sc
verely Injuries the wound, endangers the
harness and establishes violent and un-
tractable habit.
The causes of these sores are unques-
tionabiy the heat and the friction to which
the skin is subjected, but many conditions
pertaining to the constitution of the ami
NAL and its management strongly contrib
ute to induce them. Some skins are nat
urally tender, and what has been thus in
herited from the parent cannot be eradi-
Gated from the system. The conditions
which maintain and increase such liability
to Inflammation and abrasion may, how
ever, be largely corrected. and to these our
attention should therefore be especially
directed The horse that perspires very
readily and profusely suffers by the aceu-
mutation of the dried products on the har-
ness and skin, when they act as foreign
bodies and irritants to a relaxed and sus-
eeptible surface If the hair is unduly
long and heavy, SO as to favor such pers-
piration, the simL.e resort of clipping will
often prove complete preventative. While
we do not advocate indiscriminate clip
ping, and above all in winter, we do not
hesitate to affirm that in properly selected
cases where the coat is unduly heavy, and
induces excessive sweating, relaxation of
the system and lack of vigor, this measure
will often rectify all these faults and more
than double the value of the animal.
In addition to clipping, or, iudepend-
cnt of it, sponging of the skin with cold
water to clear away the accumulations and
the subsequent wetting with an astringent
solution will do much toprotect. Among
the simplest lotions may be named solu-
ton of ounce alum, ounce white oak
bark and a quart of water. For the same
reason that the skin is cleansed SO ought
the harness; and all hard or knOtted por-
tions should be beaten until they become
even, soft and plant.
Sometimes the fault is largely due to
lack of condition in the horse. 1t the
muscles are soft and fiaccid, he perspires
easily, and becomes increasingly liable to
chatting. Here the prevention is manifestly
10 be sought in sound feeding and regular
exercise before the hot weather Of summer
sets in. 50 that when that comes they will
have hard, resistant muscles ami large
powers of endurance without liability to
drenching perspiratiou and chaiiug.
Again. sudden change to rank or rap
idly grown aqueous grasses or other green
food will cause such relaxation OF the
system, and such proiuse secretion oil
the skin. as from other organs, that the
animals are very subject to gals aud abra-
sons. \ sound diet, consisting in part OF
grain aud hay, should meet this difficulty,
and course Of iron tonics may further
fortifv the system. Thus one ounce each
Of saiphato Of iron and ground geniian
root may be mixed and divided into eight
powders, ono of which can be given daily
10 the food.
No less important Is il to secure cool,
clean. airy stable. Horses kept in close,
damp buildings have the whole system un-
dermined, aad as they lack in condition
they become liable, as above shown, to ex-
cessive sweating and to abrasious. But in
addition the health suffers, and digestion
is impaired. The products Of digestion
are not perfectly adapted for building up
the, tissues or maintaining the healthy
functions of the more vital organs the
seeretions are modified, and the altered
and acid matters serve to irritate the skin
alike as they circulate in the blood vessels,
as they are secreted in the sweat, aud as
they lodge and dry up on the surface. 10
this ease cleanliness and astringent lotions
will do much, but TO strike at the root OF
the trouble We must 90 back to the source
Of IN health, whether that Is 70 be foand
in close. damp, filthy stables; in soft,
aqueous or otherwise relaxing or indigest
lille food 10 the existence Of any chrome
disorder. in overwork and debility, or IN
any Of the many causes Of loss OF health or
condition Ii is only when these have
been corrected that the local applications
are likely TO prove Of permanent benefit
When the sores have been already form
cd they may be treated by the lotion men
toned above, but with draehm Of pow
dered opium added to the quart of liquid
What is even more important than this,
however, is that all pressure upon the
sores should be prevented BY proper adj
iustment Of the harness. In some cases
the shoulder mag be protected by wearing
breast strap in place Of collar encirciing
the neck, or the saddle may be set on be-
hind the gall and held there by erupper.
When the iBjcry takes place at the name
only a zinc shield inside the upper angle
of the collar viii often serve an excellent
purpose. When all these fail, the point Of
The collar or saddle corresponding to the
sore should be carefully marked. An in
cision may be made on each side Of 1t
through the lining and stufng, aud as
much of the latter may be drawn out as
will allow the lining to be beaten down into
distinct pit. Under these circumstances
the pressure viii cease at some distance
from the margin of the wound, and that
viii be shielded from injury so that re-
eovery may be secured.
Com FODDER FOR Cows,-At the
meeting Of the Massachusetts, State Board
of Agriculture, Ex-Governor Boutwell,
expressed the opinion that corn is good
crop in New England on good corn-lah3
aud with suitable stock to consume the
fodder. The best grass land is not often
the best corn land. His own experiments
on a large scale had been very satisfactory
when conducted on warm, loamy land,
with fertilizer and horse cultivation chief
Iy. He valued the fodder equal to one