Diseases and their Remedies (continued 3)

This operation would seem to have originated in this country. The London Veterinary Journal of 1834 contains the following, taken from the United States Southern Agriculturist:—"Some years since, I passed a summer at Natchez, and put up at a hotel there, kept by Mr. Thomas Winn. During the time that I was there I noticed two remarkably fine cows, which were kept constantly in the stable, the servant who had charge of the horses, feeding them regularly three times a day with green guinea grass, cut with a sickle. These cows had so often attracted my attention, on account of the great beauty of their form, and deep red color, the large size of their bags, and the high condition in which they were kept, that I was at length induced to ask Mr. Winn to what breed of cattle they belonged, and his reasons for keeping them constantly in the stable in preference to allowing them to run in the pasture, where they could enjoy the benefit of air and exercise, and at the same time crop their own food, and thereby save the labor and trouble of feeding them? Mr. Winn, in reply to these inquiries, stated that the two cows which I so much admired were of the common stock of the country, and he believed, of Spanish origin; but they were both spayed cows, and that they had given milk either two or three years. Considering this a phenomenon (if not in nature at least in art), I made further inquiries of Mr. Winn, who politely entered into a very interesting detail, communicating facts which were as extraordinary as they were novel. Mr. Winn, by way of preface, observed that he, in former years, had been in the habit of reading English magazines, which contained accounts of the plowing-matches which were annually held in some of the southern counties of England, performed by cattle, and that he had noticed that the prizes were generally adjudged to the plowman who worked with spayed heifers; and although there was no connection between that subject and the facts which he should state, it was, nevertheless, the cause that first directed his mind into the train of thought and reasoning which finally induced him to make the experiments, which resulted in the discovery of the facts which he detailed, and which I will narrate as accurately as my memory will enable me to do it, after the lapse of more than twenty years. Mr. Winn's frequent reflections had (he said) led him to the belief "that if cows were spayed soon after calving, and while in a full flow of milk, they would continue to give milk for many years without intermission, or any diminution of quantity, except what would be caused by a change from green to dry, or less succulent food." To test this hypothesis, Mr. Winn caused a very good cow, then in full milk, to be spayed. The operation was performed about one month after the cow had produced her third calf; it was not attended with any severe pain, or much or long continued fever. The cow was apparently well in a few days, and very soon yielded her usual quantity of milk, and continued to give freely for several years without any intermission or diminution in quantity, except when the food was scarce and dry; but a full flow of milk always came back upon the return of a full supply of green food. This cow ran in the Mississippi low grounds or swamp near Natchez, got cast in deep mire, and was found dead. Upon her death, Mr. Winn caused a second cow to be spayed. The operation was entirely successful. The cow gave milk constantly for several years, but in jumping a fence stuck a stake in her bag, that inflicted a severe wound, which obliged Mr. Winn to kill her. Upon this second loss, Mr. Winn had two other cows spayed, and, to prevent the recurrence of injuries from similar causes with those which had occasioned him the loss of the first two spayed cows, he resolved to keep them always in the stable, or some safe enclosure, and to supply them regularly with green food, which that climate throughout the greater part of, if not all, the year enabled him to procure. The result, in regard to the last two spayed cows, was, as in the case of the first two, entirely satisfactory, and fully established, as Mr. Winn believed, the fact, that the spaying of cows, while in full milk, will cause them to continue to give milk during the residue of their lives, or until prevented by old age. When I saw the last two spayed cows it was, I believe, during the third year that they had constantly given milk after they were spayed. The character of Mr. Winn (now deceased) was highly respectable, and the most entire confidence could be reposed in the fidelity of his statements; and as regarded the facts which he communicated in relation to the several cows which he had spayed, numerous persons with whom I became acquainted, fully confirmed his statements."

In November 1861, the author was called to perform this operation upon the short-horn Galloway cow, Josephine the Second, belonging to Henry Ingersoll, Esq., of this city. This cow was born May 8th, 1860. The morning was cold and cloudy. About ten o'clock the cow was cast, with the assistance of R. McClure, V.S., after which she was placed under the influence of chloric ether. He then made an incision, about five inches in length, through the skin and walls of the abdomen, midway between the pelvis bone and the last rib on the left side, passing in his right hand, cutting away the ovaries from the Fallopian tubes with the thumbnail. The opening on the side was then closed by means of the interrupted suture. The animal recovered from the influence of the anæsthetic in about fifteen minutes, when she was allowed to rise, and walk back to her stall.

Upon the morning of the second day succeeding the operation, the animal was visited and found to be in good spirits, apparently suffering very little pain or inconvenience from the operation, and the wound healing nicely.

Since that time, he has operated upon some twenty cows, all of which, with a single exception, have thus far proved satisfactory.

Several of these cows are under the direction of a committee from the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, whose duty it is to have a daily record kept of each cow's yield of butter and milk, for one year from the time of spaying. Their report will be perused by the agricultural community with much interest.

The author's own experience will not justify him in speaking either in favor of, or against, this operation; as sufficient time has not as yet elapsed to satisfy him as to its relative advantages and disadvantages. He, however, regards the operation as comparatively safe. The French estimate the loss at about fifteen per cent., and the gain at thirty per cent. Of those upon which he has operated, not a single animal died.

A LIST OF MEDICINES USED IN TREATING CATTLE.

The medicines used in the treatment of the diseases of cattle, are essentially the same as those in vogue for the diseases of the human being and the horse,—the only difference being in their combination and the quantities administered.

Absorbents.—Medicines which destroy acidities in the stomach and bowels; such as chalk, magnesia, etc.

Alteratives.—Medicines which restore the healthy functions of secretion, by gradually changing the morbid action in an impaired constitution. Those in most common use are Æthiops mineral, antimony, rosin, sulphur, etc., which form the principal ingredients in all condition-powders, and are chiefly useful in diseases of the skin, such as hide-bound, mange, surfeit, etc.

Alterative Powder.—Sulphur pulverized, one pound; black antimony, one half a pound; nitrate of potassa, four ounces; sulphate of iron, one half a pound; linseed meal, one pound; mix well; dose, one half an ounce, night and morning.

Antacids.—Agents which neutralize, by their chemical action, acids in the stomach; as ammonia, carbonate of potassa, chalk, lime-water, magnesia, and soda.

Anthelmintics.—Remedies used for the expulsion of worms from the stomach and intestines. These may act chemically or by their cathartic operation. The most reliable are Æthiops mineral, nux vomica, preparations of mercury, wormwood, etc.

Anthelmintic Powders.—Nux vomica, in one half-drachm doses, two or three times daily, to an ox or cow; for calves, the dose must be diminished, according to age.

Antidotes.—Medicines which neutralize the effects of poisons by a chemical union, forming an insoluble compound, or a mild, harmless one. Alkaline solutions are antidotes for the mineral acids; as soap in solution, a simple remedy, and always at hand. Lard, magnesia, and oil are antidotes for poisoning by arsenic; albumen,—in the form of the white of an egg,—milk, etc., for corrosive sublimate, and other mercurial preparations.

Antiseptics.—Medicines which prevent putridity in animal substances, and arrest putrefaction, when already existing. These are used both externally and internally. The chief specifics of this class are the acids, alcohol, ammonia, asafœtida, camphor, charcoal, chloride of lime, cinchona, ether, and opium.

Antispasmodics.—Medicines which exert their power in allaying inordinate motions or spasms in the system, arising from various causes, such as debility, worms, etc. Those most generally in use are ammonia, asafœtida, camphor, cinchona, ether, lactacarium, mercury, and opium.

Antispasmodic draught.—Tincture of opium, one ounce; nitric ether, two ounces; water, one-half pint. Mix for drench; if repeated, it should be followed by a purgative, as soon as the spasms have subsided. Or, use the following: sulphuric ether, one to two ounces; water, one-half pint Mix for drench; repeat every hour, if necessary.

Aromatics.—Medicines possessing a grateful, spicy scent, and an agreeable, pungent taste; as anise-seed, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, etc. They are principally used in combination with purgatives, stomachics, and tonics.

Astringents.—Medicines which serve to diminish excessive discharges, as in diabetes, diarrhœa, etc. The principal agents of this class are the acids, alum, chalk, lime-water, opium, and the sulphate of copper, lead, iron, or zinc.

Astringent powder.—Opium, one drachm; prepared chalk, half an ounce; Jamaica ginger, six drachms. Mix, and divide into four powders; one to be given every hour, in a little flour gruel. Or, the following: opium, one drachm; catechu, two drachms; prepared chalk, one ounce. Mix, and divide into four powders; to be given as before.

Cardiacs.—Cordials—so termed, from their possessing warm and stimulating properties—given to invigorate the system.

Cathartics.—Medicines—also known as purgatives—which cause free evacuations of the bowels. The only purgatives used by the author in his cattle practice, as a general rule, are aloes, cream of tartar, Epsom-salts, lard and linseed-oil. These answer all the indications, where purgatives are useful; indeed, no better purgative for cattle can be found than Epsom-salts, combined with a carminative or aromatic drug, such as ginger.

Caustics.—Substances which burn or destroy parts, by combining with them and causing their disorganization; used to destroy unhealthy action, or morbid growths, such as foul ulcers, foul in the foot, warts, etc. The most powerful remedial of this class is actual cauterization with a red-hot iron; caustic potash, lunar caustic, nitrous and sulphuric acids, permanganate of potash, etc., are also used.

Cordials.—Best brandy, three ounces; orange peel, one drachm; tepid water, one pint. Mix all together, for one dose. Or, this for a single dose: ale, one pint; Jamaica ginger, two drachms. Or, the following, also a single dose: allspice, three drachms; ginger, one drachm; caraway seeds, two drachms.

Demulcents.—Mucilaginous medicaments, which have the power of diminishing the effects of stimulating substances upon the animal system. Of this class, garden rue, or marsh-mallow, gum-arabic, and gum-tragacanth are the most useful.

Detergents.—Agents which remove foulness from ulcers.

Detergent Powder.—Prepared chalk, two ounces; alum, one ounce. Mix; to be sprinkled on the part, after washing with Castile-soap and water. This powder is also an admirable application for foot-rot in sheep.

Diaphoretics.—Agents which increase the natural discharge through the pores of the skin, and in some animals induce perspiration.

Digestives.—Medicines which promote suppuration.

Digestive Ointment.—Mix together equal portions of spirits of turpentine and lard. Or, mix together with a gentle heat the following: Venetian turpentine, one ounce; lard, one ounce; pulverized sulphate of copper, two drachms. Or this, mixed: rosin, two ounces; spirits of turpentine, one ounce; red precipitate, one-half an ounce; lard, two ounces.

Diuretics.—Medicines that stimulate the action of the kidneys, and augment the secretion of urine. These are very useful in swellings of the legs, or body. Take of nitrate of potash and rosin, each six drachms; mix, and divide in three powders; one to be given daily. Or, the following: spirits of turpentine, half an ounce; Castile-soap, one ounce; Jamaica ginger, one drachm; opium, one drachm. Mix: and divide in two balls; one to be given each day.

Emollients.—Medicines which relax the lining tissues, allay irritation, and soften the parts involved,—generally of a mucilaginous, or oily character. Lard, linseed meal, and marsh-mallows are chiefly used.

Lithontriptics.—Medicines possessing the power of dissolving calculi, or stones in the urinary passages; composed principally, according to the researches of modern chemists, of lithic or uric acid. The preparation most successfully employed by the author in such cases is muriatic acid, in doses of from one to two drachms, in a pail of water, once or twice a day.

Narcotics.—Medicines that stupefy, and produce sleep. Belladonna, camphor, hyoscyamus and opium, are among the narcotics in common use.

Nauseants.—Agents which cause loss of appetite, and produce the sensation of vomiting, without affecting it. For this purpose, aloes, tartrate of antimony, white hellebore, etc., are used.

Parturients.—Agents which act upon the uterus. In cases of difficult parturition, or calving, resort is occasionally had to them. Ergot of rye is the most powerful.

Refrigerants.—Cooling applications, which reduce the temperature of the blood and body; as cold water, ether, lead-water, etc.

Rubefacients.—Medicines which gently irritate the skin, producing redness on white surfaces. Of this class, are aqua ammonia, creosote, mustard, turpentine, etc.

Sedatives.—Agents which depress the vital energies, without destroying life; as aconite, digitalis, hellebore, hydrochloric acid, hyoscyamus, opium, and tartrate of antimony.

Tonics.—Medicines which increase the action of the muscular system, giving strength and vigor to the animal. These are among the most useful remedies known to man, and are beneficial in all cases of debility, toning up the stomach, and improving the appetite and condition of the animal.

Tonic Powder.—Pulverized gentian-root, one ounce; Jamaica ginger, one half an ounce; anise-seed, six drachms. Mix, and divide in eight powders; one to be given night and morning.

Traumatics.—Medicines which excite the healing process of wounds; as aloes, friar's balsam, myrrh, rosin, sulphate of copper or zinc, tar, etc.

Traumatic lotion.—Mix tincture of aloes, one ounce; tincture of myrrh, two ounces. Or, melt together, tar, one ounce; rosin, two ounces; lard, four ounces. Or, mix sulphate of zinc, one drachm; rain-water, one half pint. Or, use the following, the celebrated friar's balsam; benzoin, in powder, four ounces; balsam of Peru, two ounces; Socotrine aloes, one half ounce; rectified spirits, one quart. Digest for ten or twelve days; then filter for use.

DOSES OF VARIOUS REMEDIES USED IN CATTLE PRACTICE.

Aconite.—[Monk's hood; Wolf's bane.] An active poison. Used as a sedative in tincture; ten to twenty drops in water.

Æthiops Mineral.—[Hydrargyri Sulphuretum.] One to two drachms.

Alcohol.—A stimulant; three to six ounces.

Allspice.—[Pimento berries.] Aromatic; two to four drachms.

Aloes.—Cathartic and tonic; tonic dose, one half to one drachm—cathartic, one to two ounces.

Alum.—[Alumen.] Irritant, astringent, and sedative; two to four drachms.

Ammonia.—[Aqua ammonia; Liquor ammonia; Hartshorn.] Principally used in combination with mustard, as an external irritant, and internally, as a diffusible stimulant; two to six drachms. Of carbonate of ammonia, three to six drachms.

Anise-seed.—[Fruit of the Pimpinella Anisum.] One to two drachms.

Antimony.—[Sulphate of Antimony.] Used in condition-powders; one to three drachms. Muriate of antimony. [Oil, or butter, of antimony.] Caustic; very good in foul in the foot. Tartarized antimony. [Tartar emetic.] One to four drachms. The author, in the last instance, varies from the dose prescribed by veterinary authors, never giving it in more than one-half-drachm doses, believing its action thus more certain and satisfactory.

Asafœtida.—Stimulant; two to four drachms.

Axunge.—[Hog's Lard.] Ointment, principally; may be used as purgative in doses of from one to one and a half pounds.

Balsam of Peru.—Stimulant, and tonic; two to four drachms.

Belladonna.—[Deadly Nightshade.] Narcotic, anti-spasmodic, and irritant poison; one to two drachms.

Benzoin.—[Gum Benjamin.] Ointment; see Traumatics.

Calomel.—[Hydrargyri Chloridum.] One half to one drachm.

Camomile.—[Anthemis.] Stomachic, carminative, and tonic; one to two ounces.

Camphor.—[Camphora Officinarum.] Narcotic and irritant; in small doses, sedative and stimulant; one to four drachms.

Cantharides.—[Spanish Flies.] Internally, stimulant and diuretic; twenty to thirty grains. Externally, vesicant; used in form of ointment, or tincture.

Caraway.—[Fruit of the Carum Carisi.] Used chiefly for flavoring purposes.

Cardamoms.—[Fruit of the Elettaria Cardamomum.] Used to communicate an agreeable flavor to other medicines.

Catechu.—[Acacia Catechu.] Astringent, and antiseptic; three to six drachms.

Chalk.—[Carbonate of Lime; Calcis Carbonas.] Two to three ounces.

Charcoal.—[Carbo Ligni.] Antiseptic; one half to one ounce.

Cinchona.—[Peruvian Bark.] Astringent and tonic; one to two ounces.

Copper, Sulphate of.—[Blue Vitriol.] Tonic and astringent; two to four drachms.

Creosote.—[Creosotum.] A sedative, anodyne, astringent, narcotic, and irritant poison; fifteen to twenty drops.

Croton Oil.—[Crotonis Oleum.] Internally, as a cathartic, six to ten drops in linseed-oil; externally, as a counter-irritant.

Digitalis.—[Fox Glove.] Sedative and diuretic; one to two scruples.

Epsom-Salts.—[Sulphate of magnesia.] Cathartic; one pound, combined with ginger.

Ergot.—[Spurred rye.] Parturient; two to six drachms.

Ether.—Stimulant, narcotic, and anæsthetic; one to two ounces.

Gentian.—[Root of Gentiana lutea.] Stomachic and tonic; one to two ounces.

Ginger.—[Zengiber officinale.] Stomachic, carminative, and slightly tonic; one to two ounces.

Gum-arabic.—[Gummi Acaciæ.] Demulcent and emollient; one to two ounces.

Gum-tragacanth. Same action and same doses as the former.

Hellebore.—[Helleborus.] Irritant poison, and sedative; twenty to thirty grains.

Hyoscyamus.—[Henbane.] Narcotic, anodyne, and anti-spasmodic; ten to twenty grains.

Iodine.—[Iodineum.] Internally, as a tonic; two to three scruples; also as a tincture, and in ointments for reducing enlargements of the soft tissues.

Iron, Sulphate of.—[Ferri Sulphas; Green Vitriol, Coppera.] Irritant, astringent, and tonic; two to four drachms.

Koosso. Anthelmintic; two to four drachms.

Lime, Chloride of.—Antiseptic; dose internally, one to two drachms.

Linseed oil.—Cathartic; one pint.

Lunar Caustic.—[Nitrate of Silver.] Used as a caustic.

Magnesia.—[See Epsom-Salts.]

Marsh-mallow.—[Altheæ Radix.] Demulcent and emollient; principally used for poultices and fomentations.

Muriatic Acid.—[Hydrochloric Acid; Spirit of Salt.] Tonic, irritant, and caustic; dose internally, one to two drachms.

Mustard.—[Sinapis.] Counter-irritant; used principally as an external application.

Myrrh.—Stimulating tonic to unhealthy sores; seldom used internally.

Nitric Acid.—[Aqua fortis.] Astringent and tonic; one to two drachms in water. Used also as a caustic.

Nux Vomica.—[Seeds of Strychnos.] In large doses, a deadly poison; in medicinal doses, a powerful tonic and anthelmintic; one half to one drachm.

Opium.—[Papaver Somniferum.] Narcotic, sedative, anodyne, stimulant, and anti-spasmodic; two to four drachms.

Potash, Carbonate of.—[Potassæ Carbonas.] Antacid and diuretic; three to six drachms.

Potash, Caustic.—[Potassa fusa.] Used only as a caustic.

Potassa, Permanganate of.—Used externally as a caustic.

Rosin.—Diuretic; two to three ounces.

Salt, Common.—[Chloride of Sodium.] Irritant, cathartic, stimulant, and antiseptic; one to one and a half pounds.

Salts, Glauber.—[Sulphate of Soda.] Cathartic and diuretic; one to one and a half pounds.

Saltpetre.—[Nitrate of Potassa.] Diuretic, febrifuge, and refrigerant; one half to one ounce.

Sublimate, Corrosive.—[Protochloride of Mercury.] Seldom used internally; externally, caustic and stimulant.

Sulphur.—[Brimstone.] Stimulant and laxative; three to four ounces.

Sulphuric Acid.—Irritant, caustic, and astringent; two to three drachms.

Tartar, Cream of.—[Potassæ Tartras.] Cathartic; three to four ounces.

Turpentine.—Stimulant, anthelmintic, diuretic, and laxative; one to two ounces.

Zinc, Sulphate of.—[White Vitriol.] Astringent and tonic; one to two drachms.