SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 627 



of iron, 4 ounces; finely ground bone or "bone flour," 1 pound; pow- 

 dered gentian. 4 ounces; common salt, 8 ounces; powdered fenugreek, 

 4 ounces; mix. In addition to this, 3 tablespoons of powdered char- 

 coal may be mixed with the animal's food three times a day, and a 

 piece of rock salt should be placed where the animal can lick it at 

 will. German veterinarians have had brilliant results from the treat- 

 ment of this disease with subcutaneous injections of apomorphine in 

 doses of I'/i: to 5 grains daily for three or four days. 



HAIR CONCRETIONS. 



These concretions, or hair balls, result from the habit which cattle 

 have of licking themselves or other animals. The hairs which are 

 swallowed are carried round by the contractions of the stomach and 

 sometimes gradually assume the form of a small pellet, or ball. These 

 increase in size as fresh quantities of hair are introduced into the 

 stomach, which become adherent to the surface of the hair ball. These 

 hair balls are found most frequently in the reticulum, or second stomach, 

 though sometimes in the rumen. In calves hair balls are generally 

 found in the fourth stomach. There are no certain symptons by which 

 we can determine the presence of hair balls in the stomach, and there- 

 fore no treatment can be recommended for such cases. In making 

 postmortem examinations of cattle, we have sometimes found the walls 

 of the reticulum transfixed with nails or pieces of wire, and yet the 

 animal during life had not shown any symptons of indigestion, but had 

 died from maladies not involving the second stomach. 



INDIGESTION (DYSPEPSIA, OR GASTROINTESTINAL CATARRH). 



Tympanites, already described, is a form of indigestion in which the 

 chief sympton and most threatening condition is the collection of gas 

 in the paunch. This sympton does not always accompany indigestion, 

 so it is well to here consider other forms under a separate head. If 

 indigestion is long continued the irritant abnormal products developed 

 cause catarrh of the stomach and intestines — gastrointestinal catarrh. 

 Or, on the other hand, irritant substances ingested may cause gastro- 

 intestinal catarrh, which, in turn, will cause Indigestion. Hence, it 

 results that these several conditions are usually found existing together. 



Causes. — Irritant food, damaged food, overloading of the stomach, 

 and sudden changes of diet may cause this disease. Want of exer- 

 cise predisposes to it, or food which is coarse and indigestible may 

 after a time produce this condition. Food which possesses astringent 

 properties and tends to check secretion may also act as an exciting 

 cause. Food in excessive quantity may lead to disorder of digestion 

 and to this disease. It is very likely to appear toward the end of pro- 

 tracted seasons of drouth, therefore a deficiency of water must be 

 regarded as one of the conditions which favor its development. 



Symptons. — Diminished appetite, rumination irregular, tongue 

 coated, mouth slimy, dung passed apparently not well digested and 

 smelling badly, dullness, and fullness of the flanks. The disease may 



