The Jasper Weekly Courier

The question is very frequently asked, "What shall I do for my cow?" or "My cow is sick—can you tell what to give her!" These inquiries are sometimes accompanied by descriptions which would enable a veterinary surgeon, or one acquainted with diseases of animals, to form an opinion as to the nature of the disease. It is often that no account of the symptoms is given, and very frequently the owner is unable to give one.

Many farmers have certain specific remedies which they administer in all cases, without regard to the nature of the difficulty. In some instances they may be useful, in others they are of no benefit, and not unfrequently they do much harm. These remedies are very numerous, almost every one having some favorite dose which his father used before him, and which is believed to be a cure for all manner of complaints. There is another class, who depends entirely on what their neighbors recommend, and who pour everything down the poor beast's throat that anybody advises. We have in mind the case of a very valuable Merino ram, in those halcyon days when wool was one dollar a pound in the farmer's garret. One thousand dollars was considered a small sum to represent the value of such an animal: the poor creature, with constitution enfeebled by an excessively heavy fleece, and superabundant deposit of yolk, broke down under the strain of unnatural and stimulating food and excessive service. The owner, who had refused an offer of twenty-five hundred dollars for him, was in dismay, and knowing nothing about treating sick animals, asked the opinion of everyone, and followed the advice of all. Thoroughwort, squills, turpentine, castor oil, decoction of tobacco, pain killer, camphor, rum, laudanum and a dozen other drugs followed each other in rapid succession, until the stomach that needed rest, was filled with a fermenting mass of matter that would have burned a passage through the sides of a shark. Of course the ram died. This is a literal truth, and no fancy sketch, and although it is an extreme case, it is just as rational as much of the treatment received by sick animals. It is not strange that farmers do not understand doctoring cattle. They have too much to do to study the subject. Veterinary surgeons are so few that it is not possible to procure their assistance in many cases, and the common "cow doctors," or "farriers," as they style themselves, are usually too ignorant to be accused of quackery. As a general thing, sick animals live or die, as nature helps them or not. The farmer can write to some agricultural editor and obtain valuable information, after his best cow has gone to her rest in the compost heap. There is one remedy which is suited alike to all diseases. It costs nothing—less than nothing, for the improved condition of the stock in consequence of this magical, all healing balm being kept on hand is worth many dollars, and every farmer has it. It is Prevention. With proper care and suitable feeding, that attention which it pays to give to stock, ninety-nine per cent. of the cases of sickness would not occur. This is strong language, but it is true. There is no need of having sickness among domestic animals. Sickness is the result of the violations of the laws of nature. The domestic animals are in the absolute control of their owner. A creature that will not thrive and perform all its natural functions and duties, and maintain good health when taken good care of, is afflicted with some constitutional weakness or disease, and should be disposed of to make room for one that is sound.

Vermont Farmer.