The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-02-22
Diseased Animals.

In the treatment of ourselves we are
careful-if we discharge the dutieswhich
we owe to ourselves-to watch the pre-
monitory, symptoms of disease, and en-
deavor to thwart the approach of danger
at the earliest moment If we have q
cough we seek to allay it, before it be-
comes deeply seated. If smal-pox Is
prevalent we seek vaccination as q lsre-
ventive, and in all particulars we are
careful to ward of disease. The result
Is that those who are thus careful stgnd
. very good chance of escaping sickness.
But we fail too often to apply such rules
of prevention in our care of domestic
animals. So long as there is no marked
appearance of disease among our herds
and focks, we too seldom give the mat
ter of possible disease q single thought.
Rising in the morning, we feed the stock
without thinking of possible sickness,
and at night we feed il with. the same
degree of unconcern as to its health Ii
eats, and we are satisfied. Butthe fact
of an appetite Is not q sure sign OF
health, by any means. r.ss - -,
With human beings, eating .takts the
shape of habit to q considerable degree
A person who does not feel well. and
really has no appetite, viii frequently.
heartily; or the appetite may be unnat-
uraI. We do not know why this should,
not be frequently true of our domestic
animals also. Certainly they, too. are
creatures of habit, and it is reasonable.
70 suppose that sometimes they. have
unnatural appetites. But what are we
to doP The most careful scrutiny can
not always discern disease in the speech
laca la hrr1foa Rnf
while that is true, it is also true that
close inspection will often result in dis
covering symptoms of disease. Entire
herds and fiocks have become diseased
simply because the first individual cases
were not discovered in time to prevent
general inoculation. 1t is not, expected
that q farmer and stock raiser who Is
unskilled in veterinary science can de-
termine what the trouble is with an ami
NAL that shows symptoms of approach
ing distress. Il may be something
harmless, and it may be something
dangerous; and the very fact that the
average man is unable to determine
what the real character of animal dis
ease is, Is one great reason why the
most scrutinizing care should be exer-
cised, TO the end that the very first ap-
proach of dangerous, q contagious.
disease may be met. se -e,-.
All of our animals should be closely
watched with view of determining the
condition of their health. If cow, OF
q hog, or sheep shows symptoms of be-
ing out OF health, the first question to
be answered is, what is the uatterp Il
"a can determine this, and the disease
Is harmless, that is all there is to the
matter, except to sPply remedies to the
individual case. But there should be
no guess-work about it. We should be
just as certain of the nature of the dis
ease aswe are of anything that is abso-
lutely sure. If we are not thus certain,
the sick animal should be Immediately
removed from its companions, and CON
fined where Il viii not be apt to spread
contagion, until it is ascertained what Is
the matter with IT, It Is most reckless
to permit q sick animal to remain with
the herd or flock, eating from the same
, tits not afflicted with some contagious
disorder. Certainly we can not expect
to have our animals healthy in the very
midst Of contagion, and none of us dc
expect it. y - ) - i..s' =
In this connection, 1t viii be proper to
notice the importance of stock-raiseri
being versed in veterinary science II
would not be practicable for our older
men to apply themselves to veterinary
study, for it requires years Of applioa-
ton, under competent instruction. Vet
erinary books in the. hands of the un-
skillful sre not, to be recommended.
They are very like family doctor book,
In the hands of the family. They car
not be taken up by any body and made
useful. Medicine Is impotent enough
: in the hands of trained physicians, and
it becomes q source Of absolute danger
when its application is attempted by
the inexperienced But our younger
men have the opportunities of pursuing
vetinary studies abundantly offered. Al
. Of our agricultural colleges have s
veterinary course, and it should be
taken BY every young man who intends
to make stock breeding q business.
Even afterward he may not be compe-
tent to treat all diseases in animals, but
his knowledge viii be an immense help
TO him Western Raral. e