The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-05-22
GRASS.
Natures Owa Remedy for Diseased An
ima1.

imal.
La describing case of disease in an
animal lady correspondent says that
her husband thinks it will be all right
as soon as grass comes. This has sug-
gested to US that few words upon that
subject might be of benefit It is prob
able that nine out of ten cases of sick
ness will come out all right as soon
as the animal can be got upon grass
Our animals have been fed all winter,
in thousands of cases, upon dry, con-
centrated food, and in one way or an
other they are now showing the effects
Of it. The owner feels that he must do
something, and often it is necessary to
give medicines at once. But as soon
as grass comes stop the medicines in
ordinary cases at least, and turn them
into the pasture. At first the grass
will lack nutritious qualities, and it may
sometimes be necessary to feed even
sick animal something in addition. An
imals that are not diseased ought to
have something besides the very young
grass. But sick animal will often be
greatly benefited by stinting it in diet,
and in such cases it may need nothing
more than what the imperfect young
grass will give. If we had an animal
that was out of condition, or in any dis
ease short of being or Verging upon a
desperate case, we should turn it upon
grass as soon as grass comes, and give
that trial before resorting to medica;
treatment We feel that we can not
say too often that the custom of feeding
for months principally upon corn is one
of the most costly habits that farmers
have. 1t is positively injurious to the
animal, and to every animal that is
compelled thus to live. Sometimes we
do not see the evil effects, but we may
be sure that they exist, for such
course of feeding is in violation of ma
lures laws, and they can not be violat-
ed without paying the penalty. But
we do see the effects in thousands of
cases, and see them often enough in
our own herds to suggest the wisdom
of reform in our feeding methods.
1t ought not to be difficult to see
what the result OF constantly feeding q
dry fat producing food is. Leaving
out of the question altogether the fact
that by such feeding part of the sys-
tenn, and the most important part, too,
gets no nourishment, or scarcely any,
the natural tendency of fat producing,
concentrated dry foods is toward an
impairment of the digestive functions.
The system must have moisture. If
we deprive the system of all moisture
the animal would die. But furnishing
it with plenty of moisture in the shape
of clear water is not the best way. Ex-
| perience shows that it is better to
| furnish at least part of the moisture
| needed incorporated in the food. 1t is
for this reason that green grasses are
so valuable, or at least it is a principal
reason. 1t is for this reason that roots
are so valuable as food. In place of
medicines, therefore, in many cases we
would advise grass There is one class
of cases, however, that the farmer often
finds it hard to treat as we have sug-
gested. They are the cases of horses
| that are needed for work. He feels
| that he can not spare a horse for a
| week or two that it may run upon
grass, Well. sick horse, if it is very
| sick, should not be worked, and the
way to treat sick animal is always to
treat him the best way. If week or
two weeks, or month is the best way
to cure him, that is the way to treat
| him. The work must be left to be
taken care of in some other way, unless
we value the life and usefulness of the
animal SO little that we do not care
about saving him. Humanity, how
ever, even then should prompt us to
exercise mercy. We do not mean by
anything we have said to convey the
idea that all stock should be turned
upon grass too early. In doing this
people often make mistake. - Western
| Rural.