Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

458 CATTLE.
diuretic. The dose would vary from two to four drachms. When
dissolved in water, it much lowers the temperature of that fluid,' and
therefore the solution, applied immediately after it is made, forms an
excellent application in cases of sprains, or where there is much
superficial inflammation without any lesion of the. skin. Combined
with antimonial powder, or emetic tartar and digitalis, it forms an
almost indispensable ingredient in every. fever dfink.
Sulphur of Potash.—An ingredient in the Dover's, powder.
Poultices.—These are justly valued for abating inflammation,
cleansing wounds, and disposing them to heal. In some cases of foul
in the foot, and especially in that most painful and occasionally fatal
variety whose immediate seat is at the division of the pasterns, also
in ulcers about the throat or joints, and in garget, poultices can
scarcely be dispensed with. The basis will generally be linseed meal,
rendered even more soothing by opium ; or to which activity may be
given by the addition of common turpentine or chloride of lime.
Rve, Ergot of.—The spurred rye has lately, and with considerable
advantage, been introduced into veterinary practice in protracted
or difficult parturition, in order to stimulate the uterus to renewed
and increased, action, when the labor pains appeared to be subsiding.
Setons.—The use of setons in practice on the diseases of cattle is
in a manner limited to the passing of a piece of hair, rope, or of black
hellebore root through the dewlap ; and, as exciting inflammation in
the neighborhood of the diseased part, and thus lessening the original
one, and causing a determination of blood to a greater or less extent
to this new seat of irritation, they are useful both in acute and chronic
inflammation of the respiratory organs.. In young cattle rapidly
thriving, and placed in pasture perhaps a little too luxuriant, permanent
setons are highly beneficial. They act as a salutary drain, and
prevent that accumulation of the circulating fluid, which is the usual
cause of inflammatory fever and other fatal complaints.
Sulphate op Soda. Glauber's Salts.—A very common purgative
for cattle ; and a very good one, but inconvenient on account of its
requiring three 'times its weight of water in order to dissolve it, and
also on account of its so readily efflorescing when it is exposed to
the atmosphere, and in this state of efflorescence or powder, becoming
more purgative than when in its crystalline form. The practitioner
sometimes finds it a little difficult to calculate the amount of the dose
which he should give, on account of this variation in form and effect
and this may explain the occasional uncertainty of the Glauber's salts.
The Epsom salts, a very*little dearer, dissolving in its own weight of
water, and retaining the same form and the same purgative power
under every state of the atmosphere or of ex^Bsure to it, is now
rapidly superseding the Glauber's.
Chloride of Sodium. Common Salt.—The experience of almost
every farmer will now confirm the benefit derived from the mixture
;