Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

158 CATTLE.
ly. It indicates a foul habit of body, and is often connected with
mange ; and unless proper means are taken, it will assuredly return
in the following spring. Purges of sulphur will be found useful
but a course of alterative medicine will be most serviceable, which
should consist of one part of ^thiop's mineral, two of nitre, and
four of sulphur ; and be given half an ounce to an ounce every night,
according to age and size.
Warts on the eyelids are best removed by the scissors the root
being afterwards touched with the nitrate of silver.
The ox has a contrivance for cleansing the eye from annoying sub-
stances. A haw, or flat piece of cartilage, of a semicircular form, is
placed within the corner of the eye. When its use is required, the
eye is drawn back by the retractor muscle, and the mass of fat at
the inner side of the eye is forced forward, and drives the haw be-
fore it over the eye. When the retractor ceases to act, the fatty
substance returns to its place, and draws back the haw within the
corner of the eye.
This part of the eye is disposed to disease. The little portion of
fleshy substance towards the inner edge of the cartilage, and the
caruncle, or small fleshy body, placed at the corner of the eye to
give a proper direction to the tears, take on inflammation from sympathy
with the eye generally, or from injury, dust or gravel ; they
swell prodigiously, and the haw is protruded over the eye, and cannot
return. Ulceration appears, and a fungous growth springs up.
Every means should be adopted to save the haw, for the removal of
it will torment the animal as long as he lives.
If the disease is connected with inflammation of the eye generally,
all will subside with that inflammation, and this may be hastened
by the application of a Goulard wash, or diluted tincture of opium.
If it is a disease of the part itself, the zinc lotion must be used (two
grains of white vitriol dissolved in> an ounce of water, and the vitriol
gradually increased to four grains ; the application of it confined as
much as possible to the part, and the liquid not being suffered to get
to the sound part of the eye.) A perseverance in the use of the zinc
wash will often do wonders. When it loses its power, a lotion of
corrosive sublimate may be adopted, first of half a grain to an ounce
of water, and gradually increased to two grains.
If it becomes necessary to extirpate the part, the beast must be
cast ; keep open the eye with the fingers ; a crooked needle armed
with strdng silk, must be passed through the cartilage, by means of
which the part may be drawn out as far as possible ; and then, with
a pair of crooked scissors, the haw may be neatly dissected out. If
the ulceration extend to any of the parts behind, or to the neighboring
tissues, they also must be removed. Considerable bleeding
will probably follow the operation, and some inflammation of the
neighboring parts ; but they must be subdued by proper means.
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