Sparky Lily
1st Nov 2009, 07:43 PM
My grandfather was an army farrier nearly a hundred years ago. In 1916 he was issued with a book on Animal Management, first issued in 1908. Most of the book concerns horses, though there are sections on mules, oxen, camels and elephants. Naturally enough for the time, there's a lot about care of animals when transporting them overseas, caring for them in different climates and the practicalities of animals on the move (march).
For example: (hope you're not eating!)
Leeches are numerous in some pools and streams, and occasionally fasten onto the lips, and crawl up the nostrils and mouths of animals when drinking. Their presence may be suspected from the animal snuffling or bleeding occasionally from one nostril. Keep the patient without water for 24 hours, and then when it is offered the leech will probably appear and may be seized. When they are found on the skin the application of salt and water causes them to drop off. Any pool known to be infested with them should be avoided as a watering place, or the water previously filtered through a cloth.
and
Tail sloughing is frequent among camels and sometimes elephants. In the former the practice of tying the leading rope of the animal behind to the tail of the one in front is responsible for the injury, as the pressure is very severe whenever the hinder one lags. Any having this injury should be placed at the end of the line and the wound treated antiseptically.
and
Maggots. - Occasionally, wounds get fly-blown and maggots rapidly appear. Such may be recognised by the angry appearance of the edges, and if the bottom of the wound be carefully observed, movement of the maggots or a little bubbling on the surface can be seen. Pick out all that are visible and swab out the wound with a pledget of tow which has been dipped in a disinfectant. Cover all wounds to keep off flies when they are troublesome.
I love the straightforward, practical approach of this book!:)
For example: (hope you're not eating!)
Leeches are numerous in some pools and streams, and occasionally fasten onto the lips, and crawl up the nostrils and mouths of animals when drinking. Their presence may be suspected from the animal snuffling or bleeding occasionally from one nostril. Keep the patient without water for 24 hours, and then when it is offered the leech will probably appear and may be seized. When they are found on the skin the application of salt and water causes them to drop off. Any pool known to be infested with them should be avoided as a watering place, or the water previously filtered through a cloth.
and
Tail sloughing is frequent among camels and sometimes elephants. In the former the practice of tying the leading rope of the animal behind to the tail of the one in front is responsible for the injury, as the pressure is very severe whenever the hinder one lags. Any having this injury should be placed at the end of the line and the wound treated antiseptically.
and
Maggots. - Occasionally, wounds get fly-blown and maggots rapidly appear. Such may be recognised by the angry appearance of the edges, and if the bottom of the wound be carefully observed, movement of the maggots or a little bubbling on the surface can be seen. Pick out all that are visible and swab out the wound with a pledget of tow which has been dipped in a disinfectant. Cover all wounds to keep off flies when they are troublesome.
I love the straightforward, practical approach of this book!:)