Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/500

466] In justice to Mr., we cannot omit to mention, that the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. in 1796, voted to him a reward of fifty guineas, for communicating to the public his simple, yet effectual, method of relieving cattle thus dangerously affected; and that the Earl of has candidly testified his conviction of the propriety of the principles on which Mr. 's opinion, relative to the cause of that distemper, was established. In short, several respectable persons have farther attested, that the practice, also, has been attended with complete success.

There are various other distempers, to which the farmer's live-stock are frequently subject; such as the worms, or in horses (see p. 318), the, , , , , &c. among different species of cattle. With respect to the nature and cure of these, we refer to the order of the alphabet: such of our readers, however, as may wish for more minute information, on the subject of cattle, will probably be gratified by the perusal of Mr. 's "Observations on Live-Stock," (8vo. 4s. 6d.); a small work that was published a few years since, and is believed to possess considerable merit.

Before we conclude this interesting article of national importance, we shall add a few general remarks, tending chiefly to preserve the health, and improve the physical properties of cattle. It is admitted, by all enlightened breeders, that cleanliness is one of the most essential requisites to the prosperity of those animals; and we may venture to add that, in this respect, a degree of attention ought to be paid, little inferior to that bestowed on the human frame. Hence, frequent washing, especially after hard labour; friction with proper brushes, and curry-combs, gentle walking after a fatiguing journey; and the immediate removal of litter, both from the stalls, and farm-yards, should not be neglected. But, alas! let us look around, in the vicinity of London, and inspect the filthy situation of cows, in general, which are kept in a state worse than hackney coach-horses, for the sole purpose of giving the greatest possible quantity of milk, without regarding its quality—every judicious person will shudder at the picture. And yet, we derive from these beneficent brutes a considerable part of our daily sustenance, especially for children, and those persons whose organs of digestion have not been impaired by the habitual use of fermented, spirituous, or intoxicating liquors. See.

In a preceding part of this work (p. 276), we have pointed out the great necessity of supplying with sufficient quantities of common salt; and, for the reasons already stated, we are of opinion, that  kinds of cattle, especially , would be much benefited by the continual use of this simple and natural spice, which eminently conduces to the digestion of succulent vegetables, and is almost a specific for preventing the effects of flatulence.  cannot be given in excess: it is affirmed, that it enables the farmer to increase his live-stock; as it augments the nourishment of the food eaten, in proportion to the quantity of saline matter. It is also said greatly to improve the wool in quality, as well as quantity. Hence it ought to