CHAPTER V.—PART II.
MECHANICAL INJURIES
Burns
Injury to the skin and sub-cutaneous tissue by any hot body requires careful treatment, not only because of the local damage, but also because of possible injury to the system.
The air must be excluded as much as possible; and the less the injured part is disturbed the better. It will be found advantageous to apply one piece of linen, smeared with HUMPHREYS’ VETERINARY OIL, next to the wound, so that it may not be necessary to remove it; then over that a piece of several thicknesses, which may be removed for the purpose of applying the VETERINARY OIL. Often the part may be so situated that the plaster or covering cannot be conveniently kept in place; then the only application will be the VETERINARY OIL, simply applied with the end of the finger, so as to keep the sore or burned place moist. Slight superficial burns require only the application of the oil as above. During the healing, simply apply the VETERINARY OIL.
Give, also, for extensive burns, or deep burns, or scalds, the A.A., every two or three hours at first, then morning and at night. In extreme cases, or with extensive ulcerations, give I.I., in alternation with A.A., after the first fever has subsided.
Contusion—Bruise
Is defined as an injury inflicted on the surface of the body by mechanical violence, without laceration of the skin. It may be slight, involving only the rupture of minute vessels, or it may tear the muscular fibres, or wound a large blood vessel.
CAUSES.—Blows from sticks; butts from horns; pressure of the yoke on draught oxen.
TREATMENT.—For slight affections of this kind, in the nature of a bruise, bathe the part with HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL, three or four times per day, and as often give a dose of the B.B. This will soon remove the lameness and stiffness and restore the part, as well as ward off injurious consequences. The administration of the B.B., should never be omitted in these cases.
Sprains
These injuries affect the ligaments that connect the joints, and are caused by false steps, slipping, or by forcibly twisting or contorting the joints to an extent beyond that permitted by the natural limitations of flexion.
Sprains happen to various members—the coronet joint, the fetlock, the shoulder, etc. The pain, swelling and inflammation which accompany these accidents are proportioned to the extent of the injury.
GENERAL TREATMENT.—This consists in affording rest to the limb, mitigating the pain and subduing inflammatory action. Also apply to the part, when you know where it is, HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL, but in all such cases give the B.B., for strains, lameness, etc., a dose at first, four times per day, and later, morning and night.
=Sprain of the Shoulder.=—Draught oxen are particularly subject to this affection, which is caused by excessive exertion in drawing, false steps, slips or external violence.
SYMPTOMS.—There is heat, pain, stiffness and imperfect mobility of the limb; the animal trails it with evident pain; does not raise it easily over any obstacle; when standing, rests the weight of the body on the opposite side.
TREATMENT.—Give the animal rest, and a dose of the B.B., three times per day.
=Sprain of the Haunch.=—Inability to move the hind quarters and extremities is due to the same causes as sprain of the shoulder.
SYMPTOMS.—Limping and dragging the hind legs; when standing, the beast keeps them apart. In severe cases it can neither stand nor walk, but falls down, unable to rise. Sometimes the lumbar region is hot, swollen and painful.
TREATMENT.—The same as for other sprains. Give a dose of B.B., three times per day.
=Sprain of the Loins.=—The causes, symptoms and treatment of this affection are much the same as for sprain of the haunch.
OTHER MEANS.—In some sprains it will be advisable to precede the medicinal treatment by applications of warm water, and afterwards to dry the parts with a cloth before applying HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL or HUMPHREYS’ VETERINARY OIL. After the swelling has subsided, the animal may only very gradually return to its accustomed work. Give, always, a dose of B.B., morning and night, or even three times per day.
Choking
Foreign bodies in the œsophagus—obstruction of the gullet. Roots that have not been cut into small pieces before they are given to the cattle are sometimes swallowed, especially if the beasts be very hungry. There is no doubt about the symptoms, as the body may often be felt externally, while difficulty of breathing, and violent action of the muscles of deglutition, with a view to expel the intruder, indicate what is the matter. Prompt action is necessary, as the animal, if not relieved, becomes hoven or wind blown.
TREATMENT.—If the obstruction be near the top of the gullet, it may be removed by the hand put through the mouth and protected by a common balling-iron.
Try also pouring some oil or thin grease into the gullet through a horn inserted into the mouth.
A pinch or small spoonful of coarse gun-powder put far back _under the animal’s tongue_, will often cause a violent regurgitation or vomiting, which brings up the offending substance.
Give also F.F., every half hour, if the animal is bloated or distressed with wind, or the J.K., if suffering from indigestion.
If it be too far down the œsophagus for removal in this manner, the obstruction must be pushed into the stomach. For this purpose a probang must be carefully used. A good, common probang, which will not lacerate the gullet, may be readily made from a piece of firm rope, from half-inch to an inch in diameter and four or five feet long. Wind the end of this from two or three inches down to near the end with firm, strong twine, so as to make a firm square, not pointed end. Secure the twine carefully in the strands, so it will not unravel, or yet better, wind the ends of the cord along in the strands of the rope to the handle. Then smear the bulb and rope with lard, and pass the probang down to the obstruction, and, using it like a ram-rod, drawing it back but a few inches at a stroke, you can readily drive down the obstruction, without danger of lacerating the gullet, as you are in great danger of doing by using a “rakestail” or other piece of stiff wood, causing the death of the patient.
Wounds
Animals are often exposed to wounds, which differ in character and importance, according to the manner in which they have been produced, the extent of the injury, and the part wounded.
=Incised Wounds= are produced by instruments with sharp edges; these wounds have no jagged edges, and heal most rapidly.
=Stab Wounds= may not appear very considerable on the surface, but may be very serious, as important parts may have been injured. If a bowel has been cut, blood is generally discharged from the anus, or the contents of the bowel escape through the external wound. If the parts around a stab wound soon begin to swell, blood-vessels and intestines have probably been injured, and extravasation of blood takes place.
=Lacerated Wounds= are caused by rough and blunt bodies, have a jagged and uneven appearance, and, although large and important blood-vessels have been divided, in general there is but little bleeding.
TREATMENT.—If dirt, wood, glass, sand, shot, or any other substance have got into the wound, remove them by a sponge and cold water; in some cases a syringe may be required for this purpose. If there is much bleeding, this must be arrested by using a sponge dipped in cold water, or with HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL or HUMPHREYS’ VETERINARY OIL, and gently pressed upon the wound. If _arteries_ have been severed, they will have to be grasped with a pair of forceps, and drawn slightly and gently forward, so that they may be securely tied by means of a strong ligature of silk. You may know an artery has been injured by the blood being bright red and coming in spurts. The healing of _cut-wounds_ is facilitated by bringing the edges together by means of adhesive plaster, or by stitching them. Before sewing up a wound, the bleeding should have ceased, and the operator must be careful that all foreign bodies, loose shreds of tissue, and clots of blood are carefully removed; otherwise inflammation will be produced, and the stitches will have to be removed. The sides of the wound should first be placed closely together, as before injury; each thread should be tied by itself, so that if one stitch breaks out, others may remain undisturbed. Well-waxed silk or strong thread should be used, and as many stitches inserted as may be necessary to unite the edges of the wound.
Give A.A., and apply the VETERINARY OIL in all cases of injury.
Caries of the Bones
SYMPTOMS.—Swelling of the bones; great tenderness to the touch; frequently a suppurating wound. The disease is very serious, and very difficult to cure.
TREATMENT.—You may give the J. K., each morning, and the I.I., at night, with advantage.
Fractures
=Horns.=—When a cow breaks a horn there is considerable hemorrhage, which should be arrested by applications of HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL. If the horn be warm, it is just possible to restore it by immediately putting it in its place and fixing it there with bandages. The animal should then be tied up to a ring, by itself, so that it cannot rub against anything. The stump, or replaced horn, should be wrapped in cloths after being well covered with HUMPHREYS’ VETERINARY OIL. B.B., should be given internally, once or twice per day.
=Bones.=—The _ossa ilium_, or flank bones, are most liable to fracture.
TREATMENT.—In fractures, wherever situated, it is indispensable to keep the part at rest as much as possible; consequently most fractures incidental to cattle admit of no efficatious treatment. In simple fractures, where the proper splints and bandages can be applied, recovery may ensue.
Poisonous Plants
Cattle sometimes eats poisonous plants, such as acrid buds of oak, twigs of yew, the water hemlock, and others, and consequently suffer and die. Unless it is known that they have had access to such plants, it is not always easy to determine the nature of the disorder from which they are suffering. If there be suspicion of poisoning, the following treatment may be pursued, when the symptoms seem to indicate it.
SYMPTOMS.—Torpor; refusal of food; excessive thirst; distention; the animal shows signs of great agony, grinds its teeth, stamps, paws the ground, strikes its flanks, rolls on the ground, as if with spasms or colic. Sometimes there is great fury, ending in torpor, paralysis, death.
TREATMENT.—The stomach-pump should be employed; water thrown into the rumen till vomiting ensues. This should be repeated till the stomach is emptied.
In general, however, and unless the animal be very valuable and the circumstances favorable, such means are not available, and you can only give the F.F. and J.K., in alternation, one dose every half hour, or hour, according to the urgency of the case.
Eczema
Eczema is a disease of the skin and in general appearance is much like mange, but is unlike mange in the fact that it is not caused by parasites, and therefore is not contagious.
Several forms of eczema are observed in cattle.
1—An acute form which attacks the legs; there is dullness and loss of appetite, followed by swelling, stiffness and elevated points of hair on the legs.
2—There is a chronic form attacking various parts of the body with loss of hair and crusts.
3—There is still another form caused by eating too much potato pulp, this attacks the legs with redness, swelling, crusts and general loss of condition.
Eczema may be told from mange by the absence of the parasites, which in cattle can usually be seen by the naked eye; also in mange the itching is much more intense than in eczema.
TREATMENT.—First clean the sores, removing all dirt, scabs, etc. For this purpose, olive oil is better than water, as soap and water are apt to cause further irritation. Apply Zinc Ointment night and morning. Give A.A., three times per day, for two days, then I.I. instead of A.A.
Warbles
This is often seen on cattle in February and March. It consists of a number of roundish swelling from five to twenty in number, usually on the back and sides. The swellings are sometimes as large as the closed fist.
During the summer months the gadfly lays its eggs on the skin of the cattle, especially just above the heels. The cattle bite these places and swallow the eggs; which hatch into larvæ and make their way through the body to the skin, where they form these swellings. The swellings suppurate and form a small hole, through which the larvæ breathe and later escape. After the larvæ have escaped the swellings subside.
TREATMENT.—Warbles may be prevented by keeping the cattle from swallowing the eggs. Either by brushing off the legs, or by applying kerosene oil, or a 3% solution of creoline, or one of the proprietary products for keeping flies off cattle. This should be done night and morning during July and August.
The larvæ may be killed as soon as the hole is first formed; by injecting kerosene oil from an ordinary oil can into the aperture, or by covering the hole with thick grease, which prevents the larvæ from breathing. When the larvæ are killed the swelling usually soon disappear.
PART III. Diseases of Sheep and Goats
When a number of Sheep or Goats, or a flock, are to receive medicine, the best and most economical, as well as efficient method, is as follows: Procure a new or perfectly clean pint bottle and cork, fill it two-thirds full of pure water, to which add a _large spoonful, or sixty drops_, of the proper remedy, SHAKE IT THOROUGHLY, so as to perfectly medicate the whole mass. Of this a dessert spoonful is a dose for a sheep or goat. Paste a proper label on the bottle and use it only for that remedy, so as to prevent mistake or confusion.