MEDICAL TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 477 



' distends the paunch of the animal, which often swells up enor- 

 ' mously. The cow is in great pain, breathing with difficulty, as 

 ' if nearly suffocating. Then the body grows cold, and, unless 

 ' relief is at hand, the cow dies. 



" Prevention is both cheaper and safer than cure ; but if by 

 ' neglect, or want of proper precaution, the animal is found in 

 ' this suffering condition, relief must be afforded as soon as possi- 

 ' ble, or the result will be fatal. 



" A hollow flexible tube, introduced into the gullet, will some- 

 ' times afford a temporary relief till other means can be had, by 

 - allowing a part of the gas to escape ; but the cause is not 

 ' removed either by this means or by puncturing the paunch, 

 'which is often dangerous." 



****** t- 



" If the case has assumed an alarming character, the flexible 

 ' tube, or probang, may be introduced, and afterward take three 

 ' drams either of the chloride of lime or the chloride of soda, 

 ' dissolve in a pint of water, and pour it down the throat. Lime- 

 ' water, potash, and sulphuric ether, are often used with effect. 



" In desperate cases it may be found necessary to make an in- 

 ' cision through the paunch ; but the chloride of lime will, in most 

 ' cases, give relief at once, by neutralizing the gas. 



" Choking is often produced by feeding on roots, particularly 

 'round and uncut roots, like the potato. The animal slavers at 

 ' the mouth, tries to raise the obstruction from the throat, often 

 ' groans, and appears to be in great pain. Then the belly begins 

 'to swell, from the amount of gases in the paunch. 



" The obstruction, if not too large, can sometimes be thrust 

 ' forward by introducing a flexible rod, or tube, into the throat. 

 ' This method, if adopted, should be attended w'xih great care 

 ' and patience, or the tender parts will be injured. If the ob- 

 ' struction is low down, and a tube is to be inserted, a pint of 

 ' olive or linseed oil first turned down the throat will so lubricate 

 ' the parts as to aid the operation, and the power applied must be 

 ' steady. If the gullet is torn by the carelessness of the operator, 

 ' or the roughness of the instrument, a rupture generally results 



