Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-09-20

preventing the Growth OF Horns
II. II. Lamson in Bulletin No. so, Of
the New Hampshire experiment sta
tono, writes: Many OF the disagree
able featC.Gs of dehorning may be
avoided b. preventing the horns OF
calves frc,n developing. The horns OF
cattle consist of two parts Of different
origin; .he outer horny shell is derived
from tie skin; the inner part or pith
consists of bone and is an outgrowth
or the skull. At the birth Of the calf
each Of these parts Is undeveloped and
only exists as a possibility but they
at once begin to grow, and in short
time the young horn can be felt as
slight elevation or button. Bones are
covered with a tough, fbrous menu
brane known as the perics!eum, from
the inner surface OF which new bona
is continually being formed upon the
surface Of the old. II is in this way
that growth in size is produced. and
1t is thus that the bony part OF the
horn grows.
The horny tissue develops from the
ohAh Just DIS ~ HOOlS anu NAA as
lower animals and nails in human be-
ings. There is a zone in the skin about
the base of the horn known as the
matrix, from which new horn-cells are
constantly being formed. the Older
parts being pushed on. II we destroy
the periosteum from which the bony
part of the horn Is formed and the
matrix from which the horny part is
formed we prevent the further develop
| ment of the horn. In removing horns
which are already more or less devel-
oped, as in dehorning mature animals,
the cut must be made deep enough to
| include the matriX or the stump OF
the horn will continue to grow. Il
may not be out of place here to re-
| mark that there is no danger OF cut
ting into the brain-cavity, as at this
point it lies very deeply. The open
ings frequently seen on removing the
horns are only empty spaces with
which the frontal bone is honeycomhed.
In calves the growing points OF the
horns are small in extent and can be
destroyed with little trouble. This
could doubtless be done with knife.
but We have had no personal expert
ence as yet on this point. In our ex-
periments We have made use OF caustic
potash. Caustic potash, so called, Is
pure form of the same substance that
constitutes the potash sold in cans for
soap making and cleansing purposes
1t is in the form of white sticks, In
diameter about the size of an ordinary
lead pencil. AS its name indicates, II
is a powerful caustic, rapidly destroy
ing the skin and other tissues II kept
in contact with them. In this property
lies its value as a preventive of the
growth OF horns. When properly APP.
| piled 1t destroys the matrIx or grow.
ing point of the bony tissue and the
underlying periosteum from which the
bony pith grows.
Directions for Using Caustic Potash
The hair should be cut away from
the young horn as thoroughly as pos
sible so that the potash may come in
intimate contact with the parts to be
treated. The oily secretion should be
i'hicNCu Iiolh inc pdINS W Dt lOuSlitN
with the potash. by wiping carefully
with rag or sponge moistened with
soapsuds or water containing a little
| ammonia. Parts not to be touched
should not be moistened. The stick
Of potash is rolled up in a piece OF
paper so as to leave one end exposed
The exposed end is dipped in water
to moisten 1t and then rubbed on the
button or embryo horn until the skin
begins TO start, care being taken that
the whole of the button and the border
or matrix is included in the treatment
In young calves few days old sur
face half an inch or little more In
diameter will cover these parts.
Caustic potash, or caustic soda
which answers as well, can be obtained
at almost any drug store. When moi
in use ii should be kept in closely
stoppered vial, one with a rubber stop,
per preferred, or it will liquefy.