The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-06-26
Use the Brush on the Cows.

Few persons consider the skin as
an e%xcretory organ. 1t is supposed
to be-by those who think at all
merely a protecting covering for the
muscles and animal frame, and some
thing for the outer protective coat of
hair, or fur, o. wool, or feathers, to
grow upon. But the skin is really the
most important outlet for the waste
matter OF the whole body of an animal.
1t is by no e a tight covering, but
contains myriads o fpores or openings,
through which watery tapor escapes,
and with which also escapes a large
quantity of impure matter from the
blood. At times, the skin discharges
a large quantity of liquid matter,
which we call perspiration, and it is
always discharglng moisture, which
escapes insensibly. At least. the skin
does this when in a healthy condition,
and when this excretlon stops, it is an
indication that something is wrong.
Besides this, the skin is constantly
changing its substance;. the outer por-
renewed from within; so that in course
of a short time, the whole skin wears
away and is renewed. Where the skin
is covered with hair, these scales are
apt to gather and with the perspiration
to become compacted into Il mass,
stopping the pores and preventing the
the escape of the waste matter, which
being retained in the blood, does much
harm. For these reasons, constant
attention should be given to the skin.
brushing it, both to remove the eN-
foliated matter and the dried prespira-
ton, and to excite it to healthful action
should not be neglected. Horses, as a
rule, are fairly well attended to, be-
it is a custom to curry and
brush them regularly. But in many
cases, they are not sufficiently cleaned;
consequently their health is impaired.
The skin becomes clogged, and the
perspjration is retained in the blood,
producing more or less plood-poison-
ing, which may result i'll a variety of
disorders, at times producing farcy,
which ends in CHAMBERS. At best, the
coat becomes harsh. dry. and staring;
the skin is tight, or, as it is called,
''hide-bound." and becomes irritated,
producing itching, with perhaps the
.oss of HAIR. Eruptions on the skin,
and pimples, and perhaps the we'll
known scratches" result from the re-
tention of these impure matters. To
avoid all these troubles. the horse
should be thoroughly brushed with a
stiff. clean brush, for at least ten
minutes, morning and night; and in
the summer, when perspiration is pro-
fuse, the skin should bc sponged, or
washed down with a wisp of wet straw,
and then rubbed dry, before it is
brushed.
But few farmers ever think it me-
cessary that a COW should be brushed.
We have seen neighbors laugh and
ridicule what they called II over
niceness and business, when the cows
were curried and brushed twice a day,
with as much care as was given to the
horses. "What! curry a cow? Never
hearn tell of such a thing!" But .
COW needs 1t, even more than q horse
and for several reasons A cow
whose milk is used for food, unless she
have a perfectly clean skin, eanno
give clean milk, and then the butter
will be'bad. The skin should be in
perfectly h~ealthful condition, and thu
blood pure. or tho milk viii be impur,
and unhealthful, and the butter o
cheese will be tainted. Neither clean
illness nor healthtulness a be secure,
without regular brushing of the ski
and the removal of all the filth whic