50 STOCK-POISOlSriNG PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



The remedies in common use by herders and cowboys for prevent- 

 ing fatal results from bloating are doses of lard or fat pork, and 

 paunching or rumenotomy. The usual method of making an incision 

 in the stomach is b}^ means of a long knife with a blade an inch or more 

 in width. The knife is plunged directly through the body wall and 

 into the stomach with a single stroke. The gases are thus allowed to 

 escape through this opening and the pressure within the digestive 

 organs is relieved. Some stockmen prefer to use the trochar and 

 canula, which are especially designed for such cases and are for sale 

 by dealers in veterinary instruments. The chief advantage is that the 

 opening made by this instrument is much smaller than that produced 

 b}^ the knife, heals more readily, and is less likely to result in any 

 complications. 



With regard to the value of these remedies for bloating it may be 

 stated that they are exceedingly effective and quite safe in the hands 

 of the average herder and cowboy. A few cases were observed in 

 sheep where the herder had cut a slit of the length of 5 or 6 inches 

 through the walls of the stomach, thus rendering it almost impossible 

 for the wound to heal without the use of sutures. It is entirely unnec- 

 essary, however, to make incisions of greater length than 2 inches 

 either in sheep or cattle to allow the gas to escape readily. In cases 

 where the formation of gas does not take place rapidly and where the 

 animals are noticed as soon as they begin to bloat the liberal applica- 

 tion of cathartics is often quite sufficient to check the process of fer- 

 mentation. Large doses of soda may also be given in connection with 

 cathartics. Where, on the other hand, the production of gas has gone 

 so far that the animal is unable to walk, immediate relief is necessary 

 in order to prevent fatal consequences. The gas pressure upon the 

 inside of the first stomach may become so great as to interfere with 

 respiration and the action of the heart, or even to rupture the dia- 

 phragm or the stomach walls. The only way in which this pressure 

 may be relieved is to make an incision directly into the stomach 

 through that part of its wall which is adherent to the body wall, as 

 already explained. 



A number of stockmen have inquired concerning the exact point at 

 which the incision should be made. The proper place is located upon 

 the left side of the body at a point equidistant from the last rib, the 

 angle of the hip bone, and the vertebral column. After a little 

 experience it will be easily found. 



NONPOISONOUS PLANTS WHICH ABE MECHANICALLY 

 DANGEROUS. 



There occur in Montana, as indeed throughout the entire West, 

 occasional losses of stock which are due to plants acting in a purely 

 mechanical way, no poisonous substance being present. We refer to 



