The American Reformed Cattle Doctor Part 16

To be renewed every twelve hours, until the matter escapes.

SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK.

Sprain, or _strain_, as it is commonly termed, sometimes arises from violent exertions; at other times, by the animal unexpectedly treading on some uneven surface.

_Treatment._--First wash the foot clean, then carefully examine the cleft, and remove any substance that may have lodged there. A cotton bandage folded around the claws and continued above the fetlock, kept wet with the following lotion, will speedily reduce any excess of inflammatory action that may exist:--

Acetic acid, 1 ounce.

Water, 1 pint.

_Another._

Vinegar, 1 pint.

Water, 3 pints.

STRAIN OF THE HIP.

This may sometimes occur in working oxen. Rest is the princ.i.p.al remedy.

The part may, however, be bathed daily with the following:--

Wormwood, 4 ounces.

Scalding vinegar, 2 quarts.

The liquor must be applied cold.

_Strain of the knees_ or _shoulder_ may be treated in the same manner as above.

FOUL IN THE FOOT.

A great deal of learned nonsense has been written on this subject, which only serves to plunge the farmer into a labyrinth from which there is no escape. The author will not trespa.s.s on the reader's patience so much as to transcribe different authors' opinions in relation to the nature of the disease and its treatment, but will proceed at once to point out a common-sense explanation of its cause, and the proper mode of treating it.

The disease is a.n.a.logous to foot rot in sheep, and is the consequence of feeding in wet pastures, or suffering the animals to wallow in filth. A large quant.i.ty of morbific or excrement.i.tious matter is thrown off from the system through the surfaces between the cleft. Now, should those surfaces be obstructed by filth, or contracted by cold, the delicate mouths of these excrement.i.tious vessels, or outlets, are unable to rid the parts of their morbid acc.u.mulations: these vessels become distended beyond their usual capacity, communicate with each other, and, when no longer able to contain this ma.s.s of useless material, an artificial drain, in the form of "foot rot," is established, by which simple method the parts recover their reciprocal equilibrium. In this case, as in diarrhoea, we recognize a simple and sanative operation of nature's law, which, if aided, will generally prove beneficial.

That "foul in the foot" is caused by the sudden stoppage of some natural evacuation is evident from the following facts: First, the disease is most prevalent in cold, low, marshy countries, where the foot is kept constantly moist. Secondly, the disease is neither contagious nor epidemic. (See _Journal de Med. Vet. et comparee_, 1826, p. 319.)

_Treatment._--In all cases of obstruction to the depurating apparatus, there is a loss of equilibrium between secretion and excretion. The first indication is, to restore the lost function. Previously, however, to doing so, the animal must be removed to a dry situation. The cause once removed, the cure is easy, provided we merely a.s.sist nature and follow her teachings. As warmth and moisture are known to relax all animal fibre, the part should be relaxed, warmed, and cleansed, first by warm water and soap, lastly by poultice; at the same time bearing in mind that the object is not to produce or invite suppuration, (formation of matter,) but only to liberate the excess of morbid materials that may already be present: as soon as this is accomplished, the poultice should be discontinued.

_Poultice for Foul Feet._

Roots of marshmallows, bruised, half a pound.

Powdered charcoal, a handful.

" lobelia, a few ounces.

Meal, a tea-cupful.

Boiling water sufficient to soften the ma.s.s.

_Another_.

Powdered lobelia, } Slippery elm, } equal parts.

Pond lily, bruised, }

Mix with boiling water. Put the ingredients into a bag, and secure it above the fetlock.

Give the animal the following at a dose:--

Flowers of sulphur, half an ounce.

Powdered sa.s.safras bark, 1 ounce.

Burdock, (any part of the plant,) 2 ounces.

The above to be steeped in one quart of boiling water. When cool, strain. All that is now needed is to keep the part cleansed, and at rest. If a fetid smell still remains, wet the cleft, morning and evening, with

Chloride of soda, 1 ounce.

Water, 6 ounces.

Mix.

_Another._

Pyroligneous acid, 2 ounces.

Water, a pint.

Mix.

_Another._

Common salt, 1 table-spoonful.

Vinegar, a wine-gla.s.s.

Water, 1 quart.

Whenever any fungous excrescence makes its appearance between the claws, apply powdered bloodroot or burnt alum.

RED WATER.

This affection takes its name from the high color of the urine. It is not, strictly speaking, a disease, but only a symptom of derangement, caused by high feeding or the suppression of some natural discharge. If, for example, the skin be obstructed, then the insensible perspiration and excrement.i.tious matter, which should pa.s.s through this great outlet, find some other mode of egress; either the lungs of kidneys have to perform the extra work. If the lot falls on the latter, and they are not in a physiological state, they give evidence of febrile or inflammatory action (caused by the irritating, acrid character of their secretion) in the form of high-colored urine. In all cases of derangement in the digestive apparatus, liver included, both in man and oxen, the urine is generally high colored; and the use of diuretic medicines is objectionable, for, at best, it would only be treating symptoms. We lay it down as a fundamental principle, that those who treat symptoms alone never cure disease, for the animal often dies a victim to the treatment, instead of the malady.