The complete cattle doctor : a treatise on the diseases of horned cattle and calves, written in plain language, which those who can read may easily understand : the whole being the result of seventy years extensive practice of the author / John C. Knowlson.

  • Knowlson, John C.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The complete cattle doctor : a treatise on the diseases of horned cattle and calves, written in plain language, which those who can read may easily understand : the whole being the result of seventy years extensive practice of the author / John C. Knowlson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    the best last, as they pretend. Why do not such persons put the best first, and leave the other out ? Although I will allow that some med- icines will do for one and not for another. The medicines here pre- scribed are for a middle-sized beast; for a stronger, add a little more to them ; and for a weaker, diminish according to its strength. POISON, OR SWELLING IN THE BOWELS. This disorder is nearly the same as eating too much clover, though it is not clover that causes it, but too much herbage being thrown into the first stomach, which heats and swells before it is thrown back again ; and when the weight presses upon the artery or blood vessels, it causes a stagnation of the blood, or what is called a stoppage of blood, and in this case, unless found in time, the animal will soon be dead. The first thing to be done is to let blood pretty freely, then give a pint or three gills of sweet oil, or pale rape oil; or, if that cannot be got, give ten or twelve ounces of melted butter. If the beast be able to walk, walk it about a little, and if that will not answer the end de- signed, stab it with a knife an inch broad at least; if broader no worse, as the place, or orifice, where it is cut, is seldom too wide, but mostly too small: be careful to keep off the loin, for when the animal is so swelled it is very deceiving : the right place is half xmy between the rib and the huch bone, on the contrary side to that you milk on. After the wind has got out, cover the hole with a plaster of any sort to keep it from letting wind in ; and when the disorder has subsided, put a strong pin across the wound, and tie it close with a strong thread ; then lay on a plaster made of Burgundy pitch. POISON BY DISAGREEABLE HERBS. This often happens in some parts of our land, where grows what is called wild saffron, deadly nightshade, foxglove, hemlock, or yew : any of these will, cause a beast to be disordered, or even take their lives if not assisted. To know the disorder, observe the following: It will swell in the eyelids and lips, also in the barren and the teats of the bag; the body will swell in some places very much, and in others not so much. These are the most certain marks when a beast has re- ceived poison; and if not assisted, the disorder often proves fatal. Many will give eggs and chamber-lye, but in my opinion they are neither of them likely to give relief in this dangerous case. When you find a beast in this disorder, bleed it well, and give six ounces of castor oil; if that be not at hand, give it a pint of salad or pale rape oil ; and if these cannot be come at, melt eight or ten ounces of butter, and give it in gruel. I have known fat, from the top of broth where fat meat has been boiled, assuage this disease; but I wish all that have cows to keep sweet or pale oil by them. Pale oil will answer the same as sweet oil in many cases. When a beast has received any of the pernicious herbs before men- tioned, especiall}' the yew-tree, it has not done with the disorder when the swelling is assuaged, for yew is hard of digestion, and will not soon pass the second and third stomachs : the other herbs mentioned