Treatment. 283 



considered in each case and the possibility of tuberculosis must 

 be kept in mind. 



Treatment. The same therapeutic methods which are 

 recommended for the cure of overlilling of the rumen (see 

 page 253) should be employed to remove the gastric disturl)- 

 ances caused by dull foreign'bodies. In overfilling of the gastro- 

 intestinal tract with sand Potting uses castor oil or mucilaginous 

 solutions, followed after eight hours by opium ; he also recom- 

 mends rhizoma veratri. This treatment is however often un- 

 successful in sand in the rumen. After the lodgment of foreign 

 bodies in one of the gastric openings, drugs stimulating the 

 motions of the rumen may also be employed; however,^ the 

 foreign body can usually be removed only by incision of the 

 rumen. Expectant treatment appears indicated in the beginning 

 since even in the presence of pointed bodies in the stomachs 

 complete recovery is possible; it is then to be recommended 

 to elevate the forepart of the body of the animal (Imminger) 

 and to give them easily digestible or fluid food (see page 273). 



The elevation of the foreparts of the body may, according to Sallinger, be 

 accomplished by constructing a bridge 30 cm. high, supplied with cross boards 

 and slanting backwards. The sick animals ought to stand and lie on this improvised 

 bridge for eight or more days. 



If emaciation and continuous fever have set in, the animals 

 should be slaughtered unless an operation for the removal of 

 the foreign body has already been decided upon. An incision 

 into the rumen has been performed successfully in the presence 

 of dull foreign bodies (Scherg, Sporer). The incision of the 

 rumen should always be tried in the milder cases and in those 

 not particularly far advanced since the animal may still be 

 slaughtered even if the operation is not a success._ However, 

 in long-existing and very grave cases this operation is no longer 

 to be'recomniended since it will, under these circumstances, 

 not lead to recovery. In some cases the operative treatment 

 of abscesses in the neighl)orhood of the fore-stomachs has to 

 be considered (Moussu). 



The removal of foreign bodies through an incision into the rumen was first 

 proposed by Obieh and it was practiced later on by Meyer for the cure of traumatic 

 pericarditis. The operation is performed by making an incision into the left flank 

 of the standing animal (see page 255). The hand is then introduced through the 

 operation wound and guided towards the opening between rumen and reticulum, 

 situated to the right and below. If the foreign body is found it is extracted. 

 Obich was successful in four out of thirteen cases and Meyer caused in one case 

 the disappearance of the pericardial symptoms which were already developing. 



Schoberl's method of removing a foreign body which had pene- 

 trated into the gastric wall by massage, consists in placing the animal 

 on its back. The operator then stands next to the animal on a chair 

 and with one foot placed upon the ensiform cartilage he pushes upon 

 it ; six to ten times is usually sufficient. It is claimed that in only 

 two ont of sixty animals so treated did the foreign body fail to slip 

 into the reticulum. Considering the fact that a sudden increase of 



