90 Indigestion 



TREATMENT 



Remove the cause if it is to be found in the feed and give a good 

 physic as II/2 pounds epsom salts in 2 quarts of water for each 1000 

 pounds live weight. If the bowels do not move in 24 hours repeat the 

 dose or give Yz gallon of raw linseed oil to clean up the bowels. 



3 to 4 drams (3 to 4 teaspoonsful) of Tannic Acid or 

 1 to 2 ounces (3 to 4 tablespoonsful) of Oak Bark Tea 

 may be beneficial if given 3 to 4 hours after the salts. 



CHRONIC INDIGESTION 



{Loss of the Cud) 



The first stomach (rumen) of normal cattle and sheep has the 

 function of returning food to the mouth that is not sufficiently chewed 

 for digestive purposes. When the digestive apparatus loses this function 

 farmers sometimes call it the loss of the cud which is not improper if 

 they recognize the base of the trouble is in the digestive apparatus. 



CAUSES 



Chronic indigestion more often attacks aged cows that have been 

 hearty eaters and have been fed coarse dry feeds. Chronic indigestion 

 may attack young cattle. I have had several cases among yearlings. Dry 

 coarse feeds as corn fodder, straw, hay or dead grass are all inducive 

 when fed in cold weather for a considerable period without salt and 

 sufficient water is not drank for digestive purposes. 



A cow may be fed dry fodders in the winter and a run down condition 

 be the only noticeable symptom but if they have lost the ability to chew 

 the cud a lot of symptoms may develop ^vhile they are on green girass; 

 again the condition may improve when they are turned out on the grass. 



SYMPTOMS 



Loss of cud (Rumination) grating of the teeth, loss of appetite, weak- 

 ness and a disposition to lie down a great deal. The eyes become sunk- 

 en and the hide becomes leather like. The bowel passages become hard 

 or may alternate with diarrhoea. The paunch becomes enlarged with 

 gas (bloat) which in older cattle seldom causes misery, but may occur 

 day after day in old or young cattle and may be the outstanding symp- 

 tom in young cattle. The symptoms usually develop slowly. 



