The American Reformed Cattle Doctor Part 37

Take an infusion of hardhack, strain, and add a table-spoonful of finely-pulverized charcoal to every three quarts of fluid.

_Another._

An infusion of witch hazel.

_Another._

Powdered bayberry bark, 1 table-spoonful.

Boiling water, 3 quarts.

When cool, it is fit for use.

_Use._--Astringent injections are used in all cases where it is desired to contract the living fibre, as in scouring, dysentery, scouring rot, diarrhoea, b.l.o.o.d.y flux, falling of the womb, fundament, &c.

_Nouris.h.i.+ng Clyster._

Nouris.h.i.+ng clysters are composed of thin gruel made from flour, &c.

_Injection for Worms._

Make an infusion of pomegranate, (rind of the fruit,) and inject every night for a few days. This will rid the animal of worms that infest the r.e.c.t.u.m; but if the animal is infested with the long, round worm, (_teres_,) then half a pint of the above infusion must be given for a few mornings, before feeding.

_Another for Worms._

Powdered lobelia, 1 ounce.

Wood ashes, a handful.

Boiling water, 3 quarts.

When cool, it is fit for use.

FOOTNOTES:

[24] Messrs. Parker & White, in Boston, have shown us an excellent machine used for the purpose of cutting cornstalks. Every farmer should have one in his possession.

[25] A large portion of the cayenne found in the stores is adulterated with logwood, and is positively injurious, as it would thus prove astringent.

[26] Their active properties may be extracted by infusion.

INFUSIONS.

These are made by steeping herbs, roots, and other medicinal substances in boiling water. No particular rules can be laid down as to the quant.i.ty of each article required: it will, however, serve as some sort of a guide, to inform the reader that we generally use from one to two ounces of the aromatic herbs and roots to every quart of fluid. A bitter infusion, such as wormwood or camomile, requires less of the herb. All kinds of infusions can be rendered palatable by the addition of a small quant.i.ty of honey or mola.s.ses. As a general rule, the human palate is a good criterion; for if an infusion be too strong or unpalatable for man, it is unfit for cattle or sheep. We do not depend so much on the strength of our agents: the great secret is to select the one best adapted to the case in view. If it be an agent that is capable of acting in concert with nature, then the weaker it is, the better. In short, nature requires but slight a.s.sistance under all ordinary circ.u.mstances, unless the animal is evidently suffering from debility; then our efforts must act in concert with the living powers. We must select the most nutritious food--that which can be easily converted into blood, bones, and muscles. If, on the other hand, we gave an abundance of provender, and it lacked the const.i.tuents necessary for the purposes in view, or was of such an indigestible nature that its nutritive properties could not be extracted by the gastric fluids, this would be just as bad as giving improper medicines, both in reference to its quant.i.ty and quality.

An infusion of either of the following articles is valuable in colic, both flatulent and spasmodic, in all cla.s.ses of animals: caraways, peppermint, spearmint, fennel-seed, angelica, bergamot, snakeroot, aniseed, ginseng, &c.

ANTISPASMODICS.

By antispasmodics are meant those articles that a.s.sist, through their physiological action, in relaxing the nervous and muscular systems.

Hence the reader will perceive, by the definition we have given of this cla.s.s of remedies, that we cannot recommend or employ the agents used by our brethren of the allopathic school, for many of them act pathologically. The cla.s.s we use are simple, yet none the less efficient.

Professor Curtis says, when alluding to the action of medicinal agents, "Experiments have shown that many vegetable substances, which seem in themselves quite bland and harmless, are antidotes to various poisons.

Thus the skullcap (_scutellaria laterifolia_) is said to be a remedy for hydrophobia, the _alisma plantago_ and _polemonium reptans_ for the bites of serpents, and lobelia for the sting of insects. They are good; but why? Because they are permanently relaxing and stimulating, and depurate the whole system."

Natural antispasmodics are warmth and moisture. The medicinal ones are lobelia, Indian hemp, castor musk, ginseng, a.s.safoetida, pleurisy root, Virginia snakeroot, camomile, wormwood. The above are only specimens. There is no limit to the number and variety of articles in the vegetable kingdom that will act as antispasmodics or relaxants. They may be given internally or applied externally: the effect is the same.

FOMENTATIONS.

This cla.s.s of remedies is usually composed of relaxants, &c., of several kinds, combined with tonics, stimulants, and anodynes. They are very useful to relieve pain, to remove rigidity, to restore tone, and to stimulate the parts to which they are applied.

_Common Fomentation._

Wormwood, } Tansy, } equal parts.

Hops, }

Moisten them with equal parts of boiling water and vinegar, and apply them blood warm.

_Use._--For all kinds of bruises and sprains. They should be confined to the injured parts, and kept moist with the superabundant fluid. When it is not practicable to confine a fomentation to the injured parts, as in shoulder or hip lameness, constant bathing with the decoction will answer the same purpose.

_Anodyne Fomentation._

Hops, a handful.

White poppy heads, 1 ounce.

Water and vinegar, equal parts.

Simmer a few minutes.

_Use._--In all painful bruises.

_Relaxing Fomentation_

Powdered lobelia, 2 ounces.

Boiling water, 2 quarts.

Simmer for a few minutes, and when sufficiently cool, bathe the parts with a soft sponge.

_Use._--In all cases of stiff joints, and rigidity of the muscles.