Impaction of the Omasum ( Third Stomach). 127 



of the rumen may appear and the contents of that organ seem 

 consolidated and may be felt as solid masses when pressure is 

 made by the hand. The .mouth is hot, clammy and foetid, and 

 the bowels costive, the faeces being passed in small amount and 

 in the form of hard, black pellets, covered by a film of mucus, 

 or streaks of blood, and containing particles of undigested food. 

 This not unfrequently merges into a transient diarrhoea to be 

 followed in turn by renewed constipation, and such alternations 

 may repeat themselves again and again. The omasum is .so deeply 

 .seated under the ribs on the riglit side that exploration is iin.satis- 

 factor}^ especially in the milder cases, yet pressure of the closed 

 fist upward and forward below the middle of the chest will give 

 the impression of a specially solid resistance and the patient ma}' 

 indicate suffering hy a moan. Percussion with the closed fist has 

 tlie same effect. There may be .slight tremors of the body, the 

 horns, ears and limbs are cold, and the hair erect in patches, dry 

 and lustreless. 



In cases occurring independently of previous disease, diarrhoea 

 may be the fir.st symptom noted, the malad}' being preceded by 

 local irritation and congestion, but this soon gives place to con- 

 stipation with alternating diarrhoea and the general train of symp- 

 toms above-mentioned. The animal leaves the herd and is found 

 lying apart on its left side with the nose in the right flank, the 

 pulse and breathing quickened, the eyes congested, and a moan 

 emitted occasionally in expiration. This is increased if the patient 

 is raised and driven, especially down hill. He walks with stiff, 

 arched back, unstead}' gait and dragging limbs. Appetite ma}^ 

 not be entirely lost at first, but only impaired and irregular, and 

 as rumination ceases, grinding of the teeth becomes common. 

 The secretion of milk is diminished or altogether arrested, and 

 emaciation advances da}' by day. Foetor of the eructations, the 

 result of prolonged and septic fermentation in the rumen, is often 

 a marked symptom. 



This form may last from ten to fourteen days and merge finally 

 into paralysis of the hind limbs, drowsiness and stupor, or delirium 

 and convulsions. 



In the more acute cases resulting from a sudden access of green 

 food, a change of water, or the ingestion of irritant plants, the 

 affection partakes more or less of the nature of congestion or in- 



