IMPACTION OF THE COLON IN RUMINANTS. 



Causes: Debility, hard, fibrous food, dry winter feeding, privation of 

 water, astringents, smut, ergot. Symptoms : Hard, moulded, coated dung, 

 blood-streaked, and in small quantity, tympany, dullness, debility, splashing 

 sound when right flank is pressed, rectal exploration. Treatment: Laxative 

 food, water, salt, strychnia, eserine, barium chloride, enemata, oils. 



This is not a common affection in cattle, yet it does occur in 

 weak and debilitated conditions, and in animals fed on fibrous 

 and innutritions aliments. The ingesta are delayed in the gut, 

 their liquid portion absorbed and the remainder accumulates in a 

 hard mass, which distends and weakens the bowel. Dry winter 

 feeding, with a scarcity of water .strongl}' contributes to its pro- 

 duction. Astringent plants in the hay, or smut or ergot may add 

 to the tendency. 



Symptoms. The faeces are hard and firm, glazed on the stir- 

 face, coated with mucus and sometimes stained with blood. They 

 are passed in small qtiantity and with much effort and straining, 

 and finally the bowels become completely blocked, nothing what- 

 ever being passed. Tympany of the rumen now appears, 

 especially after feeding, appetite and rumination fail, there is 

 mtich dullness, debility, and loss of flesh and unless relieved, the 

 animal dies in marasnnis. Pressure on the right side of the 

 abdomen made suddenly and forcibly produces a sound of liquid 

 splashing in an air space, derived apparently from the accumula- 

 tion above the obstruction. The oiled hand introduced into the 

 rectum may feel the solid impaction, but in any case causes pain 

 and moaning wlien the seat of the impaction is pressed upon. 



Treatment. In the milder cases and earlier .stages a change to 

 .sloppy food, green food, or boiled flaxseed, with plenty of salt, 

 free access to water, and scruple doses of ntix vomica may prove 

 successful. 



In the more advanced condition.s with complete obstruction, 

 give Y-z lb. to I lb. each of sodium chloride, and sodic sulphate, 

 and Yn dr. nux vomica, inject hypodermically 3 grs. eserine or 

 7 grains barium chloride, give water ad libitum, and frequent 

 and large injections of soapsuds. If these latter are given cold 

 they will still further stimulate the missing peri.stalsis. In ob- 

 203 



