288 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



discern such a change in diseases. However, the majority 

 of diseases, now met with, are of a low type, and require 

 for treatment not bleeding, but medicines and good feeding, 

 to support the powers of nature. 



Impaction of the Omasum, or Third Stomach. — 



In some parts of the world this disease is called " wood 

 evil.'' So called because the stomach is filled with leaves, 

 dried bramble and sticks or twigs, from bushes. These 

 articles being deficient in nutritive matter, cause the sus- 

 pension of rumination (chewing the cud,) and digestion. 



Causes. In addition to the causes above given, we may 

 add that of dried grass, which has been left standing in the 

 field ; or in fact any kind of food, which does not contain 

 essential principles for fat and blood making, in proportion 

 to its bulk, is sure to bring on an attack of wood evil or 

 impaction of the third stomach. ^ 



Symptoms. Loss of cud, loss of appetite, and quickened 

 breatliing, accompanied Avith a grunt. Diarrhoea is fol- 

 lowed by constipation, great thirst; the legs, horns and 

 ears are cold ; grinding of the teeth, and when the disease 

 has about run its course, moaning takes the place of the 

 grunt, diarrhoea succeeds costiveness, and the poor beast 

 dies exhausted. Examinations after death disclose a curi- 

 ous condition, namely : the third stomach is perfectly sti^ffed 

 full with food, and it is so hard and dry, that it readily 

 burns when fire is applied to it. 



Treatment. Allow the animal plenty of cold water to 

 drink, so that the mechanical effects thereof may be advan- 

 tageous in assisting to wash, dilute and moisten the dry 

 mass. Give strong purgatives. Take epsom salts, one 

 pound ; table salt, half a pound ; oil of croton, fifteen 

 drops; mix, and give in one dose, in fully a gallon of 



