EXAMINE THE MOUTH

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 8

EXAMINE THE MOUTH

Not infrequently we have sent to us queries concerning animals “slobbering” at the mouth, and are asked to determine the trouble and advise treatment. Apparently it does not occur to owners of animals to examine the mouth of the animal that fails to masticate its feed properly. Much suffering might be ended at once if prompt measures were adbpted and the trouble located. Such symptoms presented by mouth trouble as salivatioA or “slobbering,” swollen lips, feed partially chewed, and then ejected (an act usually termed “quidding”), presence of umchewed grain in the feces, more especially of the horse; failure to attempt eating or sudden stopping of chewing, and twisting of the head to one side, indicating pain, are not uncommonly met with by stock-owners the world over. The mouth also should be examined when an animal fails to thrive although supplied with an abundance of nutritious feed. Dr A. S. Alexander tells us of several instances which readers may find useful. He instances the case of a pig which found its way to a slaughter-house with 24 nails lodged in its tongue. That animal cannot have been comfortable, to say the least of it, and an observant feeder should have noticed somethin')- wrong and examined the mouth and removed the offending bodies. Surely any humanitarian would have been pleased ’to have tackled the job, and have had a thankful pig ever afterwards. People often overlook symptoms indicative of such conditions in the aniin their charge. As an evidence of this the case of a woebegone colt is cited. “The critter hasn’t been able to eat a bite properly since it stopped nursing,” said the honest owner, and the poor colt, by its tatterdemalion appearance, potbelly, and self-evident ribs, corroborated the story. “ ‘ Have you examined its mouth V we asked, and when the owner, as fully expected, answered in the negative, it was sugested that he should do so. for his own benefit and that of the neighours. The demonstration was a good one, for it disclosed that the upper jaw overshot the under one by nearly 3in, making prehension and mastication of feed practically impossible. The poor creatu-re had to be put out of its misery, and that might have been done many months earlier had its owner been half awake.” A newborn foal suddenly became unable to swallow milk, and when it nursed the milk ran from its mouth in a stream, and the little animal was rapidly falling away in condition. When the owner was asked if the foal’s mouth had been examined the answer was again in the negative. On examination it was found that the foal had tried to eat planing-mill shavings, and, being unable to swallow them, they had lodged between the tongue and cheeks on each side and prevented the swallowing of milk. In an identical condition the offending material was oat straw. Had these things not been removed the foals would have inevitably died. Another example was the case of a yearling draught colt which was brought up for examination and treatment for worms, as it had failed to thrive and was skin and bone, and had not “shed off” properly. It was a sorry specimen. The veterinarian learnt that the hay chewed by the colt always fell out of the mouth, but the owner had failed to detect the cause. Examination of the mouth disclosed a thick snag of wood jammed between the upper molars and across the hard palate, making mastication imperfect. The lodged stick was quickly taken out, and the colt then chewed perfectly, and in a very short time became plump and happy, Calves that slobber may be affected with “calf diphtheria,” which may prove fatal if not attended to at once. Failure to determine the cause of slobbering is a fatal mistake in the management of these or any other animals. Similar slobbering in an adult cow or steer is a prominent symptom of “wooden tongue” (actinomycosis), which in the earlv stages is amenable to treatment, and also of split or diseased molar teeth in all animals, the removal of which would give relief. In fact, any owner of stock should, for his .own benefit, take notice of symptoms suggestive of irritation of the mouth, or swellings of any sort under the jaw. anv lolling of the tongue, or loss of appetite, and on orinciple make first a thorough examination of the mouth for causes of any of the symptoms 'suggested above ere treatment can be undertaken with prospects of a fair measure of success. NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS. The harvest is coming in apace this season, and will engage all hands. Farm Work Once cleared of stooks, for March. sheep may, with advantage all round, clean up the stubbles. No time should be lost in ploughing, or, if the season is favourable, it may be worth while to disc the stubbles, and so spring weed seeds, and fj|gd off or plough under the growth. Crops of rye, oats, or Cape barley sown this month will, given anything like fair weather conditions, make good growth and provide useful feed, and may later be shut up for spring feed or to crop later on. Land intended for lucerne can be cleaned now and limed for sowing, sav, next November. All grain stacks should he made safe from rains, and ail straw stacks hard raked down and well weighted. As the grass goes off and becomes weathered some extra attention should be given foals and young cattle, as animals are made or spoilt in their foalhood or ealfhood. Sco that a “lick” is provided to help out the unpalatable roughage of old pasture. The milkers will now respond to any extra bite of some succulent foodstuff. See that the pigs are kept warm and free from lice. Attend to all lambs and crutch and dip those intended to be fattened. “Ticky” lambs are feed-wasters. Take the lambs from their mothers in good time, so that the ewes

may ha- e at least a rest period of seven or eight weeks from nursing the lambs. Select a lew ewe lambs to take the place oi the culled old ewes in the flock, and see that they are of similar type and well clad with the same quality of wool. See to the ram s feet now. It will be too late a month later, and star-gazeis are best potted, r i i” iarns will eat some concentrated feed like oats, peas, etc., give it them. It will pay handsomely. A sluggish ram is of no earthly use, and should be altered. Dip all sheep, including “stragglers,” and ware ticks. The producer possibly is not- so very much concerned whether the disStrike or pute on the water front is Lock-out. a strike or lock-out. He realises too well, however, that the trouble is affecting his returns. “ Is called upon to increase production, and sees his efforts nullified by “breakers’ in the channels of consumption. Who put them there does not so much interest him as the consummate folly of those concerned of staying, even for a day, the flow of exports to world’s markets, and having the nerve to increase the burden of taxation of those resident in the Dominion. The Duncdin wool sale has been postponed for a week from the 22nd ult., which means that ail other wool sales following the Dunedin fixture will also be postponed. In other Tfep nm Ur ?u as ,°’ s wo . nl cl; p alone some fcaUU.UIM (at the low estimate of £lO a bale) has not been circulated among farmers owing to the cessation of work at the water I°>i\ Bu T lila , t I s dot all. The fact that the Dunedin sale has v been postponed postulates the fact that Invercargill, Oamaru, and limaru are penalised in that wool to he value of £500,000 (a low estimate) has been blocked from sale, and for what? It was bound to happen if shipping was tied up as there is a clause in the wool sale conditions permitting buyers to cancel sales m tlie event of strike conditions. Unless buyers can get the wool away after prompt date of payment (14 days after purchase) they would have to pay storage and other charges until “the cows come home,” and as they know nothing of dairying they prefer to retain their shekels in their lockers until the coast is clear. Of course, bv the time this note is in print matters may have been adjusted between employers and the employed. In the meantime the spirit of fraternity should be fanned, not banned. It » not as if wool alone was -concerned, but meat prices are far from stimulating at the moment, with the result that store cattle and sheep are coming back in price; wmle dairy products in the Homeland appear to be easing in value to a degree at least which must constrain dairy farmers to think out how to place their cheese and butter on board without undue delay. One of the distinguishing features of farm life as compared to city life Lite In the Farm is man’s association with the Environment. living. Farming has to do with the life of plants and animals. The farm has a. life-growing, lifepromoting environment. Farming is practised so that there may be life and that animals and plants may bo more abundant. Contrast this life-giving environment of the farm with the dead, artificial environment of the city. Man has made improvements m the city for his olDi comfort, but there is small place for God s creatures of life—plants and animals. In the hurry and worry of the busy business life there is no. time nor place for raising animals and plants. No wonder city life seldom appeals to those who appreciate “God’s Out-of-doors.” There is a tenderness, an elevating nobility, in caring for plants and animals. To stimulate growth, development, and harvest is no less ennobling than teaching or preaching. Farming is fundamental, for life itself is dependent upon the products of farms. Where else could have men be placed except in the Garden of Eden? Man lijes close to the earth, and when his days are over, his spirit goes to the Giver, his body to the dust from whence it came.— Farm and Ranch Review. The question whether ground oats should be fed to dairv stock Why Ground cropped up the other day, Oats? some holding that stock would do just as well if the oats were fed whole. The matter was referred to the writer to decide. In feeding calves it is recommended that oats be fed whole rather than ground, it being the experience of practical men that the digestive appantus of the young animal is benefited through the fact that it takes more time in the masticating of whole oats than when the oats are ground. I think Dr F. Truby King would endorse this contention in respect to Karitane babies, and why not with young stock. In the feeding of cows, especially animals which are producing heavily, it has been observed that there is considerable loss in feeding whole oats, in that quite a percentage of the feed is not digested. It is contended that the row makes much better use of ground oatls than the whole oats. Also, it is the writer’s opinion that the energy used in the grinding of oats can much better be furnished through a grinding mill of some kind than by the row herself. If it is anticipated that a cow will make her maximum production, she should receive her food in such form as will most tend to economise her energv and yet maintain her in the best of health. AGRICOLA.