The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-21
Pure Water for Animals,

| That pure water is better for all kinds
II stock than impure will be generally
admitted by those who have given the
subject the least thought or attention.
But ali animals are not in position to
obtain pure water; in fact, it is only q
very small proportion of those that
come under the head OF domesticated
hat touch absolutely pure water a
iozen times during their lives, and the
only wonder is that so few are injured
by the impurities and filthy matter
taken into the stomach with the liquids
they drink. 1t has been asserted that
in several instances typhoid fever has
been traced to the milk of cows feeding
On farms on which sewage from cities
had been used for enriching the land !;
but whether the germs of the disease
were taken with the grass or in the
water drunk is at present unknown,
and there are not wanting very good
authorities on such matters who still
doubt if the germs of typhoid fever can
be transmitted from the water or food
of the cow to her milk. DIR. r. Barnes,
of England, thinks that it has not
get been clearly established that
typhoid fever has been produced
from drinking impure milk, but
saws that the germs may have been
added in the water put into the milk
for the purpose of dilution. He admits,
however. that in any case the impor-
lance of securing pure water for cattle
more satisfactory to supply the cow
with pure water to elaborate into milk,
as well as to have pure water to dilute
it,
That cattle will sometimes drink i'm
pure and filthy water when pure can be
Just as readily obtained is well-known
fact, but this may be attributed to
morbid appetite, and not to natural
causes. A correspondent of the Ncrk
Lane Express. referring to the fact that
sometimes animals seem to prefer filthy
liquids to drink, says: ''Do your cor
respondents know that horses have the
strongest possible preferences for par
ticular waters. not always the cleanest.
and that although many will not drink
their favorite water from strange pail.
others, as well as cattle and pigs, will
scratch away the straw that they may
suck up the filthy water stagnant in the
muck in farm yard, when plenty of
pure rainwater is provided for them in
clean and proper troughs and tanks?
Have they observed that not only horses,
cattle, and pigs will do this, but poul-
try, pigeons, and our domestic and
dumb pets-dogs and cats leaving
pure water provided expressly for them,
and tapping up the vilest denominations
found about the place and on the roads
with evident and disgusting relish?n
While the above is no doubt often
true, it does not in the least shake our
faith in the necessity of pure water for
stock. We also know that animals will
eat, as well as drink, that which is not
exhibit less intelligence than man. 1t
will not do to trust wholly to the in
stincts of animals in the selection of
their food or drink. for it is well known
that cattle, horses and sheep will often
feed voraciously at certain seasons of
the year upon poisonous plants, and
will also drink water strongly impreg-
mated with poisonous chemicals. Dogs,
cats, rats, and mice seem to be attracted
by the stencil of the PHOSPHORUS paste.
and will lick it up, although it is rank
poison, and will cause death in few
minutes, or hours at furthest.
Animals, no doubt, often seek filthy
water and DRAWINGS of barnyards and
chemical works, on account of the
saline taste of such liquids, and when
we see cattle chewing old bones and
rags, or drinking from stagnant ponds,
Al l. A.
thing wrong in the care and manage
ment of them. Mr.. ID. Ward, of Eng
land, who appears to doubt that filthy
water can affect the milk of cows, says
that typhoid and similar diseases. which,
it is asserted, are sometimes caused by
impure milk, "are far more prevalent
in summer, when cattle have unre-
stricted access to good water in the
fields, than in winter, when they can
only get such water as is supplied
them But probably he does not know
thot the germs of such diseases are
destroyed by frosts and cold, and would
not multiply even if the animals drank
water ever so fully supplied or impreg-
mated with the fever germs. The best
dairy districts are, as rule, those
where cattle drink from cold springs
and pure mountain streams, and, we
might add, the best wool and mutton
and the finest horses are raised in the
regions from which come the best butter
and cheese. Where pure water is most
abundant in springs and small streams,
the land is generally best adapted to the
production of rich, nutritious heritage
of all kinds, and the two, good food and
good pure water, usually go together.
Old pastures become foul, and the
streams running through them and the
springs frequented by cattle become
polluted with the washings from the
change to fresh fields will often prove
very beneficial to stock of al kinds.
Old pastures should be occasionally
broken up and the droppings of the
animals mixed with the soil. and the
land again seeded down after a crop or
two of some kind has been grown upon
it. This will prove purifying process,
and the new sward and grasses will be
healthier and sweeter than the old ones;
less filth will also be washed into the
springs, ponds. and streams where the
cattle 90 for water. We often hear men
Boosting of their old pastures that have
been yielding good grass for twenty
five or more years, without having been
broken up or the sward disturbed except
by the feet of Their cattle; and while we
admit that such land must be valuable,
VIC can not believe that it is as healthy
for stock as if it had been purified by
an occasional ploughing and periods of
rest.
In many of the Western States, and
especially ON the higher prairies,
streams and springs are exceedingly
scarce. and the nrincipal sources fr m