Book VII. 



DISEASES OF HORNED CATTLE. 



975 



6257. Treattmiit. Bleed at first, open the bowels by saline purgatives. (5916.) After this give large 

 quantities of nitrated water, and glister also largely. 



6258. The hove or blown in cattle is also an inflammatory affection of the paunch, ending in paralysis and 

 rupture of its substance. From the frequency of its occurrence, it has become a subject of investigation 

 with almost every rational grazier, and a particular matter of inquiry with every agricultural body ; 

 from whence it is now very successfully treated by the usual attendants on cattle, when skilful ; but when 

 otherwise, it usually proves fatal. It is observed to be more frequent in warm weather, and when the 

 grass is wet. When either oxen, cows, or sheep, meet with any food they are particularly fond of, or 

 of which they have been long deprived, as potatoes, turnips, the different grasses, particularly red clover ; 

 they eat greedily, and forget to lie down to ruminate, by which means the first stomach, or paunch, be- 

 comes so distended as to be incapable of expelling its contents. From this inflammation follows, and 

 fermentation begins to take place : a large quantity of air is let loose, which still adds to the distention, till 

 the stomach either bursts, or, by its pre-ssure on the diaphragm, the animal is suffocated. The situation of 

 the beast is known by the uneasiness and general swelling of the abdomen : with the circumstances of the 

 animal being found with such food, or the presumption that it has met with it. 



62^59. Treatment. There are three modes of relieving the complaint, which may be adverted to accord- 

 ing to the degree of distention, and length of time it has existed. These are internal medicines ; the in- 

 trotluction of a prohang of some kind into the paunch by the throat; and the puncturing it by the sides. 

 Dr. Whyatt, of Edinburgh, is said to have cured eighteen out of twenty hoved cows, by giving a pint of 

 gin to each. Oil, by condensing the air, has been successfully tried. Any other substance, also, that has 

 a strong power of absorbing air, may be advantageously given. Common salt and water, made strongly 

 saline, is a usual country remedy. New milk. With a proportion of tar equal to one-sixth of the milk, is 

 highly spoken of. A strong solution of prepared ^ammonia in water often brings off a great quantity of 

 air, and relieves the animal. Any of these internal remedies may be made use of when the hoven has 

 recently taken place, and is not in a violent degree. But when otherwise, the introduction of an instru- 

 ment is proper, and is now very generally resorted to. The one princii)ally in use is a species of probang, 

 invented by Dr.'.Monro, of Edinburgh. Another, consisting of a cane of six feet in length, and of consider- 

 able diameter, having a bulbous knob of wood, has been invented by Eager, which is a more simple 

 machine, but hardly so efficacious. It is probable that, in cases of emergency, even the larger end of a 

 common cart-whip, dexterously used, might answer the end. But by far the best instrument for relieving, 

 hoven cattle, as well as for clystering them, is Read's enema apparatus, which is alike applicable to horses- 

 cattle, and dogs. It consists of a syringe, {Jig. 665. * aMo which tubes of different kinds are applied, accord . 



66o 



ing to the purpose, and the kind of animal to be operated upon. There is a long flexible tube or giving 

 an enema to horses and cattle, (a), and a smaller one for dogs {b). To relieve hoven bullocks effectually, 

 it is necessary not only to free the stomach from an accumulation of gas, but from the fermenting pulta- 

 ceous mixture which generates it ; for this purpose a tube (/) is applied to the extremity of the syringe, 

 and then passed into the animal's stomach through the mouth (d), and being put in action, the offending 

 matter is discharged by a side opening. When the same operation is performed on sheep, a smaller tube 

 (e), is made'use of. The characteristic excellency of Read's instrument is, that there is no limit to the 

 quantity of fluid that may not be injected or extracted. The same syringe is used for extracting poison 

 ftom the stomach of man, for smoking insects, extinguishing fires, and syringing fruit trees. {Encyc. of 

 Gard. 1419.) The introduction of any of these instruments may be effected by the help of an assistant, 

 who should hold the horn of the animal by one hand, and the dividing cartilage of the nose with the 

 other ; while the operator himself, taking the tongue in his left hand, employs his right in skilfully and 

 carefully introducing the instrument ; the assistant bringing the head and neck into such an attitude as 

 to make the passage nearly straight, which will greatly facilitate the operation. But when no instruments 

 can be procured, or as cases may occur when indeed it is not advisable to try them, as when the disease ha.s 

 existed a considerable time, or the animal has become outrageous, or the stomach so much distended 

 with air, that there is danger of immediate suffocation or bursting : in these instances the puncture of 

 the maw must be instantly performed, which is caWeA paunching. This may be done with the greatest 

 ease,' midway between the ilium, or haunch-bone, and the last rib of the left side, to which the paunch 

 inclines : a sharp penknife is frequently used ; and persons in veterinary practice should always keep a 

 long trochar, which will be found much the most efficacious, and by far the most safe, as it permits the 

 air escaping certainly and quickly, at the same time that it prevents its entrance into the cavity of the 

 abdomen, which would occasion an equal distention. As soon as the air is perfectly evacuated, and the 

 paunch resumes its office, the trochar may be removed ; and, in whatever w^y it is done, the wound 



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