INDIGESTION. 243 



INDIGESTION 



Is caused by errors in diet. Cattle should be supplied 

 with food which requires remastication, such as hay, 

 grass, or straw, in addition to any more nutritious foods. 

 It seems to be caused by unwholesome herbage or acrid 

 or diseased vegetables, such as decayed turnips. The bow- 

 els are irregular, the coat stares, and parts of the cud, 

 while being chewed, are dropped. A pailful of thick, 

 green fluid may be thus lost in two hours. Flesh is lost, 

 the secretion of milk is checked and then stopped, the 

 appetite is impaired, capricious, and finally lost. Poverty 

 of blood and dysentery follow. 



Remedy. — Each ox should receive a draft containing 

 14 oz. Epsom salt, 1-j- oz. gentian, and 1-j- oz. bicarbon- 

 ate potassium, mixed, and given in a pint of warm lin- 

 seed gruel. For about 6 days 6 drams bicarbonate pot- 

 assium should be mixed morning and evening with the 

 food of each animal ; or, if preferred, the powdered salt 

 may be mixed with 1-J- oz. of gentian, and given as a 

 draft in gruel or linseed tea. If possible, take cattle to 

 a high, dry, and large pasture, or make an entire change 

 of food at least. Sound roots, good hay, with oil cake, 

 corn, or bran. It is often well to feed little or no green 

 food for a time in the case of animals which have been 

 on grass. 



There is a very severe kind of indigestion of calves 

 known as 



GASTROENTERITIS. 



It is caused by too much milk, and may result in in- 

 flammation of the stomach and intestines, causing an ac- 

 rid discharge called ' white scour/ The bowels may, how- 

 ever, be constipated. 



Give alkalies in rather large doses. If diarrhea comes 

 on, stimulant tonics and cordials are useful in addition 



