Farm and Garden.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 405, 11 February 1904, Page 2

Farm and Garden.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES. TREATMENT OP SUNSTROKE OF HOBSES. periods of excessive heat, q|<A when horses are liable to suffer JiaJß from sunstroke or overheating, very much may be done to lessen or alleviate the attack. In the first instance those horses that are particularlyaffected are usually those that are sick and soft, therefore all possible means should be taken to prevent indigestion and enable the animal to withstand labour in hot weather. Horses under five years of age are more liable to suffer than seasoned adult animals. Indigestion, the common forerunner of sunstroke/ is indicated by dulcess, sluggishness, thick urine,- panting at light labour, sweating in stable, and the changeable character of the manure, which is normal some days and again clay coloured, mucous covered, or an undigested offensive mass. When bo affected it is extremely dangerous to work the animal in extra hot weather. In sudden attacks of overheating the horse may fall and die in a few minutes, or hours after a period of unconsciousness and loud snoring. Do not bleed or allow bleeding to be done. Do not give Aconite or Beliadona; they are dangerous. Do not put ice pack on the head, as it tends to produce softening of the brain. Stop working the animal immediately, r«move the harness, get the horse into a shady place under a tree where there is a breeze or draft of air; administer a pint of whisky in equal quantity of water, or two ounces of alcohol well diluted with water, or two ounces Sweet Spirit of Nitre, and one ounce Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia in one quart of Water. Bepeat in half above doses hourly until the horse revives. Tap with trocar and canula high in right flask if bleating is excessive, axd in bloated cases give rectal injections of soapy warm water hourly. High fever may be detected by placing hand in horse's mouth, or use of thermometer in rectum If it is one hundred and eight degrees or over, give one ounce saltpetre dissolved in pint of water, in addition to stiumlants prescribed above, and repeat in six hours. From start of treatment keep cool, wet packs to poll of head, and sprinkle entire body ivith cold water from a sprinkling can held a foot above the body. On recovery feed lightly upoa bran mashes and a little grain, and allow reßt for two weeks. Do not again work the animal daring hot weather. Where symptoms of brain softening remain after attack, give one drachm oi lodide Potash three or four times daily in a little water according to severity of symptoms, and continue cold wet packs to the head. Feed Boft, light, easily digested food.

KEEPING THE FOWLS HEALTHY During the summer period it is important that poultry-keepers Bhould attend carefully. to the sanitary conditions of the poultry houses and yards. No rubbish heaps should be allowed to accumulate in any portion of the yards, for they afford an ideal breeding place for vermin, and might be the means of spreading serious diseases among the fowls. Where the yard is situated in an orchard the dead limbs of the trees which fall should be frequently removed, The droppings should be removed from the houses daily. Many devices are used for catching the droppings, but none of them seem entirely satisfactory. In houses with earth floors the droppings may be raked cut and fresh dirt or straw scattered over the floor. Fresh water daily is essential to the good health of the fowls, and should be accessible to them at all times; also the drinking vessels Bhould be kept clean, and placed in shady positions. The troughs or other vessels used in feeding milk become sour in a short time, and should be scalded out and well washed in water. For feeding milk and soft feeds some people have an arrasgement by means of which the food is not fouled, as it is when fed in the usual way. Over the long narrow pan in wiiah the food is given is placed a cover made of lath two and a half inches apart. In aider to obtain the food the fowls must insert their heads between she laths. Lime and whitewash should be liberally used during the eutumor period. There is no more effective preventive against lice and other vermin. Whitewash the walls and perches and yard fences frequently; it ensures cleanliness and improves the appearance, it is also important that the fowls have exercise The lsay fowl is a loßing property, and should not be tolerated. If possible allow the chickens free range for a part of the day at least, if only for an hour, and see that 4 hay have plenty of green food; also a supply of green cut bone and grit. By adopting these means and precautions one may have an abundant supply of egge.