The American Reformed Cattle Doctor Part 42

Manganese, 1 ounce and a half.

Let these be well mixed, and placed in a shallow earthen vessel; then pour on the mixture, gradually, sulphuric acid, four ounces. The inhalation of the gas which arises from this mixture is highly injurious; therefore, as soon as the acid is poured on, all persons should leave the building, which should immediately be shut, and not opened again for several hours. Dr. White, V. S., says, "This is the only efficacious _fumigation_, it having been found that when glanderous or infectious matter is exposed to it a short time, it is rendered perfectly harmless."

GALBANUM. This gum is used for similar purposes as gum ammoniac and a.s.safoetida.

GALLS. They contain a large amount of tannin, and are powerfully astringent. A strong decoction is useful to arrest hemorrhage.

GARLIC. See _Allium_.

GENTIAN. This is a good tonic, and is often employed to remove weakness of the stomach and indigestion.

GINGER. A pure stimulant. Ginger tea is a useful remedy for removing colic and flatulency, and is safer and better adapted to the animal economy, where stimulants are indicated, than alcoholic preparations.

GINSENG, (_panax quinquefolium_.) It possesses tonic and stimulant properties.

GOLDEN SEAL, (_hydrastis canadensis_.) A good tonic, laxative, and alterative.

GOLDTHREAD, (_coptis trifolia_.) A strong infusion of this herb makes a valuable application for eruptions and ulcerations of the mouth.

We use it in the following form:--

Goldthread, 1 ounce.

Boiling water, 1 pint.

Set the mixture aside to cool; then strain, and add a table-spoonful of honey, and bathe the parts twice a day.

GRAINS OF PARADISE. A warming, diffusible stimulant.

HARDHACK, (_spiraea tomentosa_.) Its properties are astringent and tonic. We have used it in cases of "scours" with great success. It is better adapted to cattle practice in the form of extract, which is prepared by evaporating the leaves, stems, or roots. The dose is from one scruple to a drachm for a cow, and from ten grains to one scruple and a half for a sheep, which may be given twice a day, in any bland liquid.

HONEY, (_mel_.) Honey is laxative, stimulant, and nutritious.

With vinegar, squills, or garlic, it forms a good cough mixture.

Combined with tonics, it forms a valuable gargle, and a detergent for old sores and foul ulcers.

HOPS, (_humulus_.) An infusion of hops is highly recommended in derangement of the nervous system, and for allaying spasmodic twitchings of the extremities. One ounce of the article may be infused in a quart of boiling water, strained, and sweetened with honey, and given, in half pint doses, every four hours. They are used as an external application, in the form of fomentation, for bruises, &c.

h.o.r.eHOUND, (_marrubium_.) This is a valuable remedy for catarrh and chronic affections of the lungs. It is generally used, in the author's practice, in the following form: An infusion is made in the proportion of an ounce of the herb to a quart of boiling water. A small quant.i.ty of powdered marshmallows is then stirred in, to make it of the consistence of thin gruel. The dose is half a pint, night and morning.

For sheep and pigs half the quant.i.ty will suffice.

HORSEMINT, (_monarda punctata_.) Like other mints, it is antispasmodic and carminative. Useful in flatulent colic.

HORSERADISH. The root sc.r.a.ped and fed to animals laboring under loss of cud, from chronic disease of the digestive organs, and general debility, is generally attended with beneficial results. If beaten into paste with an equal quant.i.ty of powdered bloodroot, it makes a valuable application for foul ulcers.

HYSSOP, (_hyssopus officinalis_.) Hyssop tea, sweetened with honey, is useful to promote perspiration in colds and catarrh.

INDIAN HEMP, (_apocynum cannabinum_.) An infusion of this herb acts as an aperient, and promotes the secretions. It may be prepared by infusing an ounce of the powdered or bruised root in a quart of boiling water, which must be placed in a warm situation for a few hours: it should then be strained, and given in half pint doses, at intervals of six hours. A gill of this mixture will sometimes purge a sheep.

INDIGO, WILD, (_baptisia tinctoria_.) We have made some experiments with the inner portion of the bark of this plant, and find it to be very efficacious in the cure of eruptive diseases of the mouth and tongue, lampas, and inflamed gums. A strong decoction (one ounce of the bark boiled for a few minutes in a pint of water) makes a good wash for old sores. A small quant.i.ty of powdered slippery elm, stirred into the decoction while hot, makes a good emollient application to sore teats and bruised udder.

JUNIPER BERRIES, (_juniperus_.) These are used in dropsical affections, in conjunction with tonics; also in diseases of the urinary organs.

KINO. This is a powerful astringent, and may be used in diarrhoea, dysentery, and red water, after the inflammatory symptoms have subsided. We occasionally use it in the following form for red water and chronic dysentery:--

Powdered kino, 20 grains.

Thin flour gruel, 1 quart.

To be given at a dose, and repeated night and morning, as occasion requires.

LADY'S SLIPPER, (_cypripedium p.u.b.escens_.) This is a valuable nervine and antispasmodic, and has been used with great success, in my practice, for allaying nervous irritability. It is a good subst.i.tute for opium. It is, however, dest.i.tute of all the poisonous properties of the latter. Dose for a cow, half a table-spoonful of the powder, night and morning; to be given in bland fluid.

LICORICE. Used princ.i.p.ally to alleviate coughs. The following makes an excellent cough remedy:--

Powdered licorice, 1 ounce.

Balsam of Tolu, 1 tea-spoonful.

Boiling water, 1 quart.

To be given at a dose.

LILY ROOT, (_nymphaea odorata_.) Used princ.i.p.ally for poultices.

LIME WATER. This article is used in diarrhoea, and when the discharge of urine is excessive. Being an antacid, it is very usefully employed when cattle are hoven or blown. It is unsafe to administer alone, as it often deranges the digestive organs: it is therefore very properly combined with tonics. The following will serve as an example:--

Lime water, 2 ounces.

Infusion of snakehead, (balmony,) 2 quarts.

Dose, a quart, night and morning.

LOBELIA, (herb,) (_lobelia inflata_.) This is an excellent antispasmodic. It is used in the form of poultice for locked-jaw, and as a relaxant in rigidity of the muscular structure.

MANDRAKE, (_podophyllum peltatum_.) Used as physic for cattle, (which see.)

MARSHMALLOWS. See _Althea_

MEADOW CABBAGE ROOT, (_ictodes foetida_.) This plant is used as an antispasmodic in asthma and chronic cough. Dose, a tea-spoonful of the powder, night and morning; to be given in mucilage of slippery elm.

MOTHERWORT, (_leonurus cardiaca_.) A tea of this herb is valuable in protracted labor.

MULLEIN, (_verbasc.u.m_.) The leaves steeped in vinegar make a good application for sore throat.

MYRRH. The only use we make of this article, in cattle practice, is to prepare a tincture for wounds, as follows:--

Powdered myrrh, 2 ounces.

Proof spirit, 1 pint.

Set it aside in a close-covered vessel for two weeks, then strain through a fine sieve, and it is fit for use.

OAK BARK, (_quercus alba_.) A decoction of oak bark is a good astringent, and may be given internally, and also applied externally in falling of the womb or fundament.

OINTMENTS. We have long since discontinued the use of ointments, from a conviction that they do not agree with the flesh of cattle. Marshmallows, or tincture of myrrh, will heal a wound much quicker than any greasy preparation. We have, however, often applied fresh marshmallow ointment to chapped teats, and chafed udder, with decided advantage. It is made as follows: Take of white wax, mutton tallow, and linseed oil, each a pound; marshmallow leaves, two ounces.

First melt the wax and tallow, then add the oil, lastly a handful of mallows. Simmer over a slow fire until the leaves are crisp, then strain through a piece of flannel, and stir the mixture until cool.