Virginia Argus

From Poulson's Daily Advertiser.

FOUNDER IN CATTLE.

The disease in horses and cattle called the founder, is always a serious evil; and frequently fatal.—It is believed that its cause and cure are alike but little understood, and that the public frequently sustained much loss and inconvenience from that cause.

There are two species of founder in cattle, that is in horses, cows, and sheep, which though the same disease, pass under different names; that is, the bloat when resulting from too freely feeding on green clover; and when arising from eating too much grain, potatoes, bran or the like, the founder, commonly so called. Cattle have been known to die, from all these causes; but the disease is the same, and requires the same process of cure; which if seasonably administered is effectual and sure.

The founder shows itself by the swelling of the body, by symptoms of violent pain, by gripings, voiding blood, stiffness of the limbs, by trembling, groans, debility; and after a time by shedding of the hoofs and hair from the effect of a burning fever. The causes of this violent derangement of the animal system, is repletion of nutriment on the stomach. The powers of digestion are over done; and an acidity arises on the stomach, which corrodes the coats, causes inflammation & fever, with violent pain. The food instead of being converted into nutriment, and assimilated, is decomposed, and the carbonic acid is generated, either in gas, or in union with water. In the former case the gas, or the wind, is sometimes let out with a knife, and the life of the beast by this means ingeniously saved, but it is a dangerous resort, and happily a less violent and more efficacious remedy is at hand, by the chemical agency of which, the effect of the carbonic acid is obviated; and a complete cure effected, by neutralizing the acid, and thus destroying its corrosive quality. By the combination of an alkali with the carbonic acid, a neutral salt called the carbonate, if that alkali is produced which is perfectly innoxious, and passes off without detriment. When symptoms of founder, therefore, are observed, let the public be informed, that from experience, and well authenticated information, I can confidently recommend to them the following

CURE FOR FOUNDER.

Take of potash, a lump of the size of an egg or apple, for a cow, more for a horse, and in proportion for a sheep;—dissolve it in water, and from a bottle pour it down the beast's throat—If necessary, repeat the dose in smaller quantities. An immediate effect will be seen, in the abatement of the symptoms of pain, and in a few hours commonly, the beast will feed. For a beast of size, a round of Glauber's salt, administered in the same way, to work the whole off, might be proper; though the cure is principally to be attributed to the agency of the alkali. When potash is not to be had, a lye made of ashes, on the occasion, will answer the purpose. Pour water on ashes, and take the liquor, in larger quantities, in proportion as it is of strength. It is believed, that by following the above directions, the loss of many valuable animals, might be prevented, which are otherwise likely to perish, to the private loss of their owners, and to the general detriment of the community.

AMICUS.