The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-07-31
Use the brush on the Cows.


an excretory 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 tho outer protective coat of
hair, or fur, or wool, or feathers, to
grow upon. But tho skin is really the
most important outlet for tho waste
matter of the whole body of an animal.
1t is by no means tight covering, but
contains myriads ofpores or openings,
through which watery vapor escapes,
and with which also escapes q largo
quantity of impure matter from tho
blood. At times, the skin discharges
u largo quantity Of liquid matter,
which VIC call perspiration, and it is
always discharglng moisture, which
escapes inscnsibly. At least. tho skin
does this when in q healthy condition,
and when this cxcrctlon stops, it is an
indication that something is wrong.
Besides this, tho skin is constantly
changing its substance; the outer por-
tions scale of, or cxfoliate, while it is
renewed from within; SO that in course
of short time, the whole skin wears
away and is renewed. Where tho skin
is covered with hair, these scales are
apt to gather and with tho perspfration
to become compacted into q mass,
stopping tho pores and preventing tho
the escape Of tho waste matter, which
being retained in tho blood, does much
harm. For these reasons, constant
attention should be given to the skin.
brushing it, both to remove the ex-
foliatcd matter and tho dried prespira-
ton, and to excite it to healthful action
should not be neglected. Horses, Us q
rule, are fairly we'll attended to, be-
cause it is q custom to curry and
brush them regularly. But in many
cases, they are not sufficiently cleaned;
consequently their health is impaired.
Tho skin becomes clogged, and tho
perspiratiOn is retained in tho blood,
producing more or less plood- poison
! ing. which may result in a variety Of
disorders, at times producing farcy,
which ends in CHAMBERS. AT best, tho
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
i .oss of HAIR. Eruptions on the skin,
and pimplcs, and perhaps tho we'll
known ''scratchcs's result from the re-
tcntion of these impure matters. To
avoid all these troubles. the horse
should be thoroughly brushed with u
: still. clean brush, for ut least ten
minutes. morning and night; and in
tho summer, when PRECIPITATION is pro.
/ fuse, the skin should b. spOnged, OF
washed down with wisp of wat straw,
and then rubbed dry, before it il
! brushed.
But few farmers over think it ne.
cessary that a COW should BIO brushed.
We have seen ncighbors laugh and
ridicule what they called our over.
| niccncss and business, when tho COWS
were curried and brushed twice day,
with rs much care rs was given to the
horses. ''What! curry cow Never
hcarn tell of such q thing!'' But Q
COW needs it. even moro than Q horse
and for several reasons: "A cow,
whose milk is used for food, unless sht
have a perfectly clean skin, cannot
give clean milk, and then tho buttcl
will be bad. The skin should be in {
perfectly hcalthful condition, and thu
blood pure, or tho milk will BIO impure
and unhealthful, and the butter o.
cheese will be tainted. Neither clean
Illness nor llcalthfulncss can be secured
without regular brushing Of the Skin
and the removal of all tho filth which
will gather upon ill-kopt cows. Thi
should DO done before tho COWS ar,
MIXED, both morning and evening
The morning cleaning should DO
thorough one; a simple brushing, Il
remove dust and loose hairs, will b
sufficient for tho evening. twill he'll
very much, for both horses and COW
to have the stables so floorcd that til
animals can be kept from foulin;
themselves.