Abstract: The method of the present invention is directed to a nutritional supplement for ruminant animals at or about the time of freshening. The nutritional supplement comprises, in unit dosage form, prophylactically effective amounts of calcium propionate, or mixture of calcium propionate and calcium oxide, and a water soluble magnesium salt, as active ingredients in a pharmaceutically acceptable gel carrier that imparts flowability to the nutritional supplement. The present invention is also directed to a method of preventing or inhibiting a triad of diseases--hypocalcemia, ketosis and tetany--that commonly occur in ruminant animals during freshening. The method of the present invention comprises administering to a ruminant animal during its time of freshening, the above described nutritional supplement in a unit dose form.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for adjusting the pH of the water in a hot tub or a spa without clouding to within the range of 7.0 to 8.0, without adversely removing calcium, and without adversely increasing the total alkalinity of the water. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of:a) adding to the water in the hot tub or spa from one to five pounds of buffer per 500 gallons of water, the buffer comprising from about 90% to 99.5% by weight boric acid and from about 10% to about 0.5% by weight sodium carbonate; andb) allowing the buffer to dissolve in the water;whereby the water is buffered without clouding to a pH within the range of 7.0 to 8.0, the dissolved calcium is not substantially removed, and the total alkalinity of the water is not adversely increased.In a preferred embodiment of the method, the pH of the spa or hot tub water is adjusted and/or maintained within the range of 7.2 to 7.8.