204 Veterinary Medicine. 



stiiiate cases a second dose of tlie salts, or i quart of castor oil 

 may be given with the addition of 20 drops of croton oil. 



When relief has been obtained, a laxative and nutritive diet 

 and a course of bitters should follow. 



INDIGESTION WITH OBSTRUCTION OF THE COLON 



IN SWINE. 



Causes : green leguminosoe, dew, rain, dry indigestible food, lack of water 

 or exercise, debility, torpid liver. Symptoms: firm, small, coated stools, ob- 

 struction, straining, tympany, rumbling, vomiting, anorexia, lies on belly, 

 secludes himself, restless, grinding teeth, diarrhcea. Diagnosis from hog 

 cholera. Treatment : laxatives, enemata, antiferments, rubbing, massage, 

 mechanical unloading of rectum, puncture, dieting, bitters. 



Causes. The leguniinosse in their green state are liable to pro- 

 duce indigestion and flatulence in the pig. If covered by dew or 

 rain this tendency is increa.sed. Dry, fibrous or indigestible 

 food with privation of water and of exercise tends to intestinal 

 impaction. Debilit}^ from any cause, by weakening the con- 

 tractility and secretory power of the bowel strongly predisposes 

 to this condition. Torpid liver with diminished secretion of bile 

 is another common factor. 



Symptoms. The defecations are infrequent, and small, and 

 covered by a mucus film on a glazed surface. This increases 

 .steadily until they cease altogether, when straining, tympany, 

 rumbling and vomiting follow. The animal refuses food, and 

 lies on its belly, hiding under the straw when that is available. 

 Restlessness with frequent change of place and grinding of the 

 teeth are noticed. A spontaneous cure ma}' take place by a free 

 secretion of liquid in which the impacted ma.ss is loosened, disin- 

 tegrated and floated off, the co.stiveness being succeeded by diar- 

 rhoea. Once established this diarrhoea may become persistent, 

 causing serious loss of condition, and simulating hog cholera. 

 It may be distinguished by the fact that it occurred without 

 the introduction of a contagium, is easily accounted for by the 

 nature of the food and is not communicated to adjacent herds 

 treated in a different way. There is also the absence of the 



