I ran across this the other day in an old Spooner Advocate newspaper (yup, doing my Washburn Co. thing!) This story came from the 1 Sept. 1932 issue. I thought you all would get a real kick out of this. WHISTLING COWS Out in the cow country of Nebraska, Dr. Peter Johanna Christiansen has perfected an invention which seems likely to prove a boon both to cow owners and alfalfa growers. A cow's digestive tract is quite a complicated business, for a cow has four stomachs. But despite the extra equipment with which nature has endowed the cow, her eye is generally bigger than her four stomachs and the result is that bloating, often fatal, sometimes follows a hearty meal on alfalfa. Now Doctor Christiansen has fixed it so that the cows can eat their alfalfa and have their health, too. By means of a perforated cylinder, fitted with a ball valve and spring, inserted into the cow's stomach, bloating is stopped before it starts. The alfalfa gas is allowed to escape -- with a whistling sound -- as rapidly as it forms. The thing works automatically, the valve opening when pressure reaches a given stage. Farmers who have their sleep disturbed by the whistling will at least have the comfort of knowing that man has provided something for his cows which even nature forgot about, and that the "safety valve" is taking care of what might have been a very strenuous night for Bossy. That the invention has infinite possibilities is obvious. By simply blending the notes of the various whistles in his herd, a farmer may have harmonious music to cheer him as he goes about his daily toil. And when the first enterprising Nebraskan organizes the first genuine all-cow whistling choir, his fortune will be made! ++++++++++ Hmmm...I, myself, have never heard a cow whistle here in Wisconsin. But the next time I go to Nebraska, I'll be sure to keep my ears open! Some day I'll have to tell you about the time my grandmother put a wiener up a cow's nose! Have a great weekend everyone! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net