PASTURING AND SOILING 121 



"If the case is not severe enough to warrant tapping, 

 the following remedies will be found useful : A gag 

 made by winding a good-sized rope back of the horns and 

 through the mouth, or a bit, made of a piece of wood the 

 size of a fork handle, can be tied in the animal's mouth. 

 The bit should be smooth, to prevent injuring the mouth. 

 Then a small handful of salt should be thrown well back 

 on the roots of the tongue. This causes the animal to 

 work its tongue, increases the flow of saliva, and thus 

 favors the regurgitation, or gulping up, of the gas. The 

 salt and saliva swallowed help to stop fermentation. 



*' Blankets wrung out of cold water and wrapped 

 around the abdomen or belly, or cold water dashed on 

 with a bucket, often give relief. Turpentine given as a 

 drench, in milk sufficient that it will not irritate the 

 animal, is good, two ounces of turpentine for adult cattle 

 and one-half ounce for sheep being a dose. Hyposul- 

 phite of soda, dissolved in water and given as a drench, 

 is good ; one ounce for cattle and two drachms for sheep. 

 This can be repeated every half hour for two or three 

 doses. Aqua ammonia, two ounces for cattle and one- 

 half ounce for sheep, well diluted with water; carbolic 

 acid, cattle 30 drops, sheep 8 to 10 drops in sufficient 

 water; common soda, in half-ounce doses for cattle and 

 one-half drachm for sheep, can be given. In giving medi- 

 cine as drenches, they should be well diluted with water 

 or other substances until they will not burn w^hen touched 

 to the tongue. In giving drenches, be careful and not 

 choke the animal. If the animal coughs or struggles 

 violently, stop at once until it recovers somewhat. Give 

 drenches slowly. 



