affection of lice, and to accidents in the administration of food, as hoven and obstruction of the gullet may be termed.

1375. Lice. When it is known that almost every species of quadruped found in the country, and in a state of nature, is inhabited by one or more pediculida-sometimes peculiar to one kind of animal, at other times ranging over many-it will not excite surprise that they should also occur on our domestic ox. Indeed, domestication, and the consequences it entails-such as confinement, transition from a lower to a higher condition, high feeding, and an occasional deviation from a strictly natural kind of food-seem peculiarly favourable to the increase of these parasites. Their occurrence is well known to the breeder of cattle, and to the feeder of fat cattle; and they are not unfrequently a source of no small annoyance to him. Unless when they prevail to a great extent, they are probably not the cause of any positive evil to the animal; but, as their attacks are attended with loss of hair, an unhealthy appearance of the skin, and their presence is always more or less unsightly, and a source of personal annoyance to the cattle, they may much impair the animal's look, which, when it is designed to be exhibited in the market, is a matter of no small consequence. As an acquaintance with the appearance and habits of these creatures must precede the discovery and application of any judicious method of removing or destroying them, I shall describe the species now which are most common and noxious to the ox, and afterwards such as infest the other domestic animals of the farm. They may be divided into two sections, according to a peculiarity of structure, which determines the mode in which they attack an animal-namely, those provided with a mouth formed for sucking, and such as have a mouth with two jaws formed for gnawing. Of the former there are three species, which are very common, attacking the ox, the sow, and the

ass.

1376. Ox-louse (Haematopinus eurysternus,) fig. 100.-It is about 1 or 14 line in length-the line being the twelfth part of an inch, as seen by the line below the figure-the head somewhat triangular, and of a chestnut colour, the eyes pale brown, antennæ pale ochre-yellow; thorax darker chestnut than the Fig. 100. head, with a spiracle or breathing-hole on each side, and a deep furrow on each side anteriorly; the shape nearly square, the anterior line concave ; abdomen broadly ovate, greyish-white, or very slightly tinged with yellow, with four longitudinal rows of dusky horny excrescences, and two black curved marks on the THE OX-LOUSE, HEMATO- last segment; legs long and strong, particular

I

PINUS EURYSTERNUS.

ly the two fore pairs, the colour chestnut; claws strong and black at the extremity. This may be called the common louse that infests cattle. It is most apt to abound on them when tied to the stall for winter feeding, and a notion prevails in England that its increase is owing to the cattle feeding on straw. The fact probably is, that it becomes more plentiful when the animal is tied up, in consequence of its being then less able to rub and lick itself, and the louse is left to propagate, which it does with great rapidity, comparatively undisturbed. It generally concentrates its forces on the mane and shoulders. As the parasite is suctorial, if it is at all the means of causing the hair to fall off, it can only be by depriving it of the juices by which it is nourished, which we can conceive to be the case when the sucker is inserted at the root of the hair; but it is more probable that the hair is rubbed off by the cattle themselves, or is shorn off by another louse to be just noticed. The egg or nit is pear-shaped, and may be seen attached to the hairs.

1377. Ox-louse (Trichodectes scalaris,) fig. 101.-This parasite, which was described by Linnæus and the older naturalists under the

Fig. 101.

I

name of Pediculus Bovis, is minute, the length seldom exceeding a line. The head and thorax are of a light rust colour, the former of a somewhat obcordate shape, with two dusky spots in front; the third joint of the antennæ longest, and spindle-shaped (in the horse-louse, Trichodectes Equi, that joint is clavate;) abdomen pale-tawny, pubescent, the first 6 segments with a transverse dusky or rust-coloured stripe on the upper half, a narrow stripe of the same colour along each side, and a large spot at the hinder extremity of the abdomen; legs, pale tawny. Plentiful on cattle; commonly found about the mane, forehead, and rump, near the tail-head. It has likewise been found on the ass. It is provided with strong mandibles, with 2 teeth at the apex, and by means of these it cuts the hairs near the roots with facility. Both these vermin are destroyed by the same means as the sheep-louse, (1067.)

THE OX-LOUSE, TRICHODECTES SCALARIS.

1378. Choking. When cattle are feeding on turnips or potatoes, it occasionally happens that a piece larger than will enter the gullet easily is attempted to be swallowed, and obstructed in its passage. The accident chiefly occurs to cattle receiving a limited supply of turnips, and young beasts are more subject to it than old. When a number of young beasts in the same court only get a specified quantity of turnips or potatoes once or twice a-day, each becomes apprehensive, when the food is distributed, that

it will not get its own share, and therefore eats what it can with much apparent greediness, and, not taking sufficient time to masticate, swallows its food hastily. A large piece of turnip, or a small potato, thus easily escapes beyond the power of the tongue, and, assisted as it is by the saliva, is sent to the top of the gullet, where it remains. Cattle that project their mouths forward in eating, are most liable to choke. When turnips are sliced and potatoes broken, there is less danger of the accident occurring, even amongst young cattle. The site of the obstruction, its consequent effects, and remedial measures for its removal, are thus described by Professor Dick. "The obstruction usually occurs at the bottom of the pharynx and commencement of the gullet, not far from the lower part of the larynx, which we have seen mistaken for the foreign body. The accident is much more serious in ruminating animals than in others, as it immediately induces a suspension of that necessary process, and of indigestion, followed by a fermentation of the food, the evolution of gases, and all those frightful symptoms which will be noticed under the disease hoven. The difficulty in breathing, and the general uneasiness of the animal, usually direct at once to the nature of the accident, which examination brings under the cognisance of the eye and hand. No time must be lost in endeacouring to afford relief; and the first thing to be tried is, by gentle friction and pressure of the hand upwards and downwards, to see and rid the animal of the morsel. Failing in this, we mention first the great virtue we have frequently found in the use of mild lubricating fluids, such as warm water and oil, well boiled gruel, &c. The gruel is grateful to the animal, which frequently tries to gulp it, and often succeeds. Whether this is owing to the lubrication of the parts, or to the natural action superinduced, it is unnecessary to inquire; but the fact we know, that a few pints of warm gruel have often proved successful in removing the obstruction. If this remedy should be ineffectual, the foreign body may perhaps be within the reach of the small hand which a kind dairy-maid may skilfully lend for the purpose. If this good service cannot be procured, the common probang must be used, the cup-end being employed. Other and more complicated instruments have been invented, acting upon various principles,-some, for example, on that of bruising the obstructing body-and the use of these requires considerable skill. Disappointed in all, we must finally have recourse to the knife." You may try all these remedies, with the exception of the knife, with perfect confidence. The friction, the gruel, the hand, and the probang, I have successfully tried ; but the use of the knife should be left to the practical skill of the veterinary surgeon.

1379. The common probang is represented in fig. 102, a being the cup-end, which is so formed that it may partially lay hold of the piece of turnip or potato, and not slip between it and the gullet, to the risk of rupturing the latter; and being of larger diameter than the usual state of

Fig. 102.

the gullet, on being pressed forward it distends the gullet, and makes room for the obstructing body to proceed to the stomach. Formerly the probang was covered with cane, but is now with India-rubber, which is more pliable. It is used in this manner: Let the piece of wood, fig. 103, be placed over the opened mouth of the animal as a bit, and the straps of leather attached to it buckled tightly over the neck behind the horns, to keep the bit steady in its place. The use of the bit is, not only to keep the mouth open without trouble, but to prevent the animal injuring the probang with its teeth, and it offers the most direct passage for the probang towards the throat. Let a few men seize the animal on both sides by the horns or otherways, and let its mouth be held projecting forward in an easy position, but no fingers introduced into the nostrils to obstruct the breathing of the animal, nor the tongue forcibly pulled out of the side of the mouth. Introduce now the cup-end a of the probang, fig. 102, through the round hole b of the mouth-piece, fig. 103, and push it gently towards the throat until you feel the piece of the turnip obstructing you; push then with a firm

THE CATTLE

PROBANG.

Fig. 103.

and persevering hand, cautioning the men, previous to the push, to hold on firmly-for the starting of the piece of turnip by the instrument may give the animal a smart pain, and cause it to wince and even leap aside. The obstruction will now most likely give way, especially if the operation has been performed before the parts around it began to swell; but if not, the probang must be used with still more force, whilst another person rubs with his hands up and down upon the distended throat of the beast. If these attempts fail, recourse must be had to the knife, and a veterinary surgeon sent for instantly.

b

THE MOUTH-FIECE FOR THE CATTLE PROBANG.

1380. The probang, fig. 102, is 5 feet 1 inch in length, three-quarters of an inch in diameter, with pewter cup and ball ends 14 inch diameter. The mouth-piece, fig. 103, is 5 inches long and 3 inches wide, with two handles, 5 inches long each. Price of the probang is 12s., and with the mouth-piece 14s.

1381. Horen.-The hoven in cattle is the corresponding disease to the gripes or batts in

horses. The direct cause of the symptoms are undue accumulation of gases in the paunch or large stomach, which, not finding a ready vent, causes great pain and uneasiness to the animal, and, if not removed in time, rupture of the paunch and death ensue. The cause of accumulation of the gases is indigestion. "The structure of the digestive organs of cattle," says Professor Dick, "renders them peculiarly liable to the complaint, whilst the sudden changes to which they are exposed in feeding prove exciting causes.

Thus,

it is often witnessed in animals removed from confinement and winter feeding to the luxuriance of the clover field; and in house-fed cattle, from the exhibition of rich food, such as pease-meal and beans, often supplied to enrich their milk. We have already mentioned that it sometimes proceeds from obstructed gullet. The symptoms bear so close a resemblance, both in their progress and termination in rupture and death, to those so fully described above, that we shall not repeat them. The treatment mostly corresponds, and it must be equally prompt. The mixture of the oils of linseed and turpentine is nearly a specific." The recipe is, linseed oil, raw, 1 lb. ; oil of turpentine, from 2 to 3 oz.; laudanum, from 1 to 2 oz., for one dose or hartshorn, fromto 1 oz., in 2 pints imperial of tepid water. In cases of pressing urgency, from 1 to 2 oz. of tar may be added to pint of spirits, and given diluted, with great prospect of advantage. These medicines are particularly effective in the early stage of the disease, and should therefore be tried on the first discovery of the animal being affected with it. Should they not give immediate relief, the probang may be introduced into the stomach, and be the means of conveying away the gas as fast as it is generated; and I have seen it successful when the complaint was produced both by potatoes and clover; but I never saw an instance of hoven from turnips, except from obstruction of the gullet. The trial of the probang is useful to show whether the complaint arises from obstruction or otherwise, for should it pass easily down the throat, and the complaint continue, of course the case is a decided one of hoven. Placing an instrument, such as in fig. 103, across the mouth, to keep it open, is an American cure which is said never to have failed. But the gas may be generated so rapidly that neither medicines nor the probang may be able to prevent or convey it away, in which case the apparently desperate remedy of paunching must be had recourse to. "The place for puncturing the paunch," directs Professor Dick,

is on the left side, in the central point between the lateral processes of the lumbar vertebra, the spine of the ileum, and the last rib. Here the trochar may be introduced without fear. If air escape rapidly, all is well. The canula may remain in for a day or two, and on withdrawal, little or no inconvenience will usually manifest itself. If no gas escapes, we must enlarge the opening freely, till the hand can be introduced into the paunch, and its contents removed, as we have sometimes seen, in prodigious quantities.

This done, we should close the wound in the divided paunch with 2 or 3 stitches of fine catgut, and carefully approximate and retain the sides of the external wound, and with rest, wait for a cure, which is often as complete as it is speedy." To strengthen your confidence in the performance of this operation, I may quote a medical authority on its safe effects, on the human subject, even to the extent of exposing the intestines as they lay in the abdomen. "I should expect no immediately dangerous effects from opening the abdominal cavity. Dr Blundell has stated, that he has never in his experiments upon the rabbit observed any marked collapse when the peritoneum was laid open, although in full expectation of it. The great danger to be apprehended is from inflammation, and the surgeon, of course, will do all in his power to guard against it." I once used the trochar with success in the case of a Skibo stot which had been put on potatoes from turnips, and as he was in very high condition, took a little blood from him after the operation, and he recovered very rapidly. In another year I lost a fine oneyear-old short-horn quey by hoven, occasioned by potatoes. Oil and turpentine were used, but as the complaint had remained too long, before it was notified to myself, late at night, the medicine had no effect. The probang went down easily, proving there was no obstruction. The trochar was then thrust in, but soon proved ineffectual; and as I had not the courage to use the knife to enlarge the opening the trochar had made, and withdraw the contents of the paunch by the hand, the animal sank, and was immediately slaughtered. The remedies cannot be too soon applied in the case of hoven.

1382. The trochar is represented in fig. 104. It consists of a round rod of iron a, 5 inches in Fig. 104.

a

length, terminating at one end in a triangular pyramidalshaped point, and furnished with a wooden handle at the other. The rod is sheathed in a cylindrical cover or case b, called the canula, which is open at one end, permitting the point of the rod to project, and furnished at the other with a broad The canula is kept tight on the rod by means of a slit at its end nearest the point of the rod, which, being somewhat larger in diameter than its own body, expands the slitted end of the canula until it meets the body, when the slit collapses to its ordinary dimensions, and the canula is kept secure behind the enlarged point, as at c. On using the trochar, in the state as seen in c, it is forced with a thrust into the place pointed out above, through +Ibid. 54-5.

THE TROCHAR.

circular flange.

the skin into the paunch; and on withdrawing the rod by its handle,-which is easily done, notwithstanding the contrivance to keep it on,the canula is left in the opening, and retained in its place by the flange, to permit the gas to escape through the channel. On account of the distended state of the skin, the trochar may rebound from the thrust; and in such an event, a considerable force must be used to penetrate the skin. The spear of the trochar is 5 inches long, and the handle 4 inches, and price 3s. 6d.

1383. The fardlebound of cattle and sheep is nothing more than a modification of the disease in horses called stomach-staggers, which is caused by an enormous distention of the stomach. "In this variety, it has been ascertained," says Professor Dick, "that the maniplies are most involved, its secretions are suspended, and its contents become dry, hard, and caked into one solid mass. Though the constipation is great, yet there is sometimes the appearance of a slight purging, which may deceive the practitioner." The remedial measures are, at first, to relieve the stomach by large drenches of warm water, by the use of the stomach-pump. Searching and stimulating laxatives are then given, assisted by clysters, and then cordials.

1384. Warts and angle-berries are not uncommon excrescences upon cattle. They are chiefly confined to the groin and belly. I have frequently removed them by ligature with waxed silk thread. Escharotics have great efficacy in removing them; such as alum, bluestone, corrosive sublimate.

1385. Encysted tumours sometimes appear on cattle, and may be removed by simple incision, having no decided root or adhesion. I had a oneyear-old short-horn quey that had a large one upon the front of a hind foot, immediately above the coronet, which was removed by a veterinary surgeon by simple incision. What the true cause of its appearance may have been, I cannot say; but the quey, when a calf, was seen to kick its straw rack violently with the foot affected, and was lame in consequence for a few days; after which, a small swelling made its appearance upon the place, which, gradually enlarging, became the loose and unsightly tumour which was removed.

1386. A gray-coloured scabby eruption, vulgarly called the ticker, sometimes comes out on young cattle on the naked skin around the eyelids, and upon the nose between and above the nostrils. It is considered a sign of thriving, and no doubt it makes its appearance most likely on beasts that are improving from a low state of condition. It may be removed by a few applications of sulphur ointment.

1387. In winter, when cows are heavy in calf, some are troubled with a complaint commonly called a coming down of the calf-bed. A part of the womb is seen to protrude through the vagi

nal passage when the cow lies down, and disappears when she stands up again. It is supposed to originate after a very severe labour. Bandages have been recommended, but, in the case of the cow, they would be troublesome, and indeed are unnecessary; for if the litter is made firm and a little higher at the back than the front part of the stall, so as the hind-quarter of the cow shall be higher than the fore when lying, the protrusion will not occur. I had a cow that was troubled with this inconvenience every year, and as she had no case of severe labour while in my possession, I do not know whether, in her case, it was occasioned by such a circumstance; but she may have been sold on account of that complaint, which gave her no uneasiness, after the above preventive remedy was resorted to.

1388. It not unfrequently happens to cattle in large courts, and more especially to those in the court nearest the corn-barn, that an oatchaff gets into one of their eyes in a windy day. An irritation immediately takes place, causing copious watering from the eye, and, if the chaff is not removed, a considerable inflammation and consequent pain soon ensue, depriving the sufferer of the desire for food. To have it removed, let the animal be firmly held by a number of men, and as beasts are particularly jealous of having any thing done to their eyes, a young beast even will require a number of men to hold it fast. The wetted fore-finger should then be gently introduced under the eyelid, pushed in as far as it can go, and being moved round upon the surface of the eye-ball, is brought to its original position, and then carefully withdrawn, and examined, to see if the chaff has been removed along with it, which it most likely will be; but if not, repeated attempts will succeed. A thin handkerchief around the finger will secure the extraction at the first attempt. Fine salt or snuff have been recommended to be blown into the eye when so affected, that the consequent increased discharge of tears may float away the irritating substance; but the assistance of the finger is much less painful to the animal, and sooner over, and as it is an operation I have frequently performed with undeviating success, I can attest its efficacy and safety. Another remedy recommended is, to take an awn of barley, and, on seeing the position of the chaff, to use its butt-end to take hold of it, which, it is said, it will do, by drawing the awn towards you against its serrated teeth; and, I have no doubt, cures have been effected with it; but, to secure its success, a barley awn must be at hand, which it may not be at the time, and in using it, should the animal give a start and break the awn and leave it in the eye, the cure would be worse than the cause of the complaint.

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF STABLES FOR

FARM-HORSES.

1389. With the exception of a few weeks in summer, when they are at grass,

farm-horses occupy their stable all the year round. The stable is situate at O, Plate I., where its front elevation, with two doors and two windows, is seen surmounted with two ventilators, as fig. 81, on the roof. The plan of it is seen at O, Plate II., containing 12 stalls and a loose box.

1390. The length of a work-horse stable, of course, depends on the number of horses employed on the farm; but in no instance should its width be less than 18 feet, for comfort to the horses themselves, and convenience to the men who take charge of them. This plan being made for a definite size of farm contains stalls for 12 horses, with a loose box, the entire length being 84 feet. Few stables for work-horses are made wider than 16 feet, and hence few are otherwise than hampered for room. A glance at the particulars which should be accommodated in the width of a workhorse stable, will show you at once the inconvenience of this narrow breadth. The length of a work-horse is seldom less than 8 feet; the width of a hay-rack is about 2 feet; the harness hanging loosely against the wall occupies about 2 feet; and the gutter occupies 1 foot; so that in a width of 16 feet there is only a space of 3 feet left from the heels of the horses to the harness, to pass backward and forward, and wheel a barrow and use the shovel and broom. wonder, when so little room is given to work in, that cleanliness is so much neglected in farm-stables, and that much of the dung and urine are left to be decomposed and dissipated by heat in the shape of ammoniacal gas, to the probable injury of the breathing and eyesight of the horses, when shut up at night. To aggravate the evil, there is very seldom a ventilator in the roof; and the windows are generally too small for the admission of light and air; and what is still worse, a hay-loft is placed immediately above the horses' heads; and, to render the condition of the stable as bad as possible, as regards cleanliness, its walls are never plastered, and their rough stones form receptacles of dust and cobwebs.

No

1391. Some imagine that twelve horses are too great a number in one stable, and that 2 stables of 6 stalls each would be better. Provided the stable is properly

ventilated, no injury can arise to a larger than a smaller number of horses in it; and there are practical inconveniences in having 2 stables on a farm. These are, that neither the farmer nor farm-steward can personally superintend the grooming of horses in two stables; that the orders given to the ploughmen by the steward must be repeated in both stables; and that either all the ploughmen must be collected in one of the stables to receive their orders, or part of them not hearing the orders given to the rest, there cannot be that common understanding as to the work to be done which should exist among all classes of work-people on a farm.

1392. Another particular in which most stables are improperly fitted up, is the narrowness of the stalls, 5 feet 3 inches being the largest space allowed for an ordinary-sized work-horse. A narrow stall is not only injurious to the horse himself, by confining him peremptorily to one position, in which he has no liberty to bite or scratch himself, should he feel so inclined, but it materially obstructs the ploughman in the grooming and supplying the horse with food. No workhorse, in my opinion, should have a narrower stall than 6 feet from centre to centre of the travis, in order that he may stand at ease, or lie down at pleasure with comfort.

1393. It is a disputed point of what form the hay-racks in a work-horse stable should be. The prevailing opinion may be learned from the general practice, which is to place them as high as the horses' heads, because, as it is alleged, the horse is thereby obliged to hold up his head, and he cannot then breathe upon his food. Many better reasons, as I conceive, may be adduced for placing the racks low down. A work-horse does not require to hold his head up at any time, and much less in the stable, where he should rest as much as he can. A low rack permits the neck and head, in the act of eating, to be held in the usual position. He is not so liable to put the hay among his feet from a low as as from a high rack. His breath cannot contaminate his food so much in a low as in a high rack, inasmuch as the breath naturally ascends; and as breathing is