DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS 1 77 



HAIR BALLS. — True hair balls are seldom 

 found in other animals than cattle, resulting either 

 from licking themselves or others; but different 

 kinds of indigestible balls or concretions are fre- 

 quently found in cattle and other animals, particu- 

 larly the horse, in the stomach or intestines. Dust 

 balls are occasionally formed when animals are fed 

 upon mill cleanings. In sections where crimson 

 clover is fed, and frequently in over-ripe condition 

 in large quantities, balls are formed of parts of the 

 indigestible heads. Again, calcareous or mineral 

 matter may accumulate about an indigestible sub- 

 stance as a nucleus. These are not well-defined, 

 in many instances, and the balls are often present 

 without making it known. So long as they do not 

 irritate the bowel too much, or do not occlude the 

 opening from one portion of the bowel to another, 

 they are likely to escape notice. In case they do 

 obstruct the bow^el they become serious obstacles, 

 the greater number of these cases terminating in 

 death. The symptoms then become those of colic 

 from obstruction. In many cases no relief can be 

 given, but attempts should be made to cause the 

 obstruction to pass by giving mild purgatives and 

 copious enemas. 



HEAVES.— The term "heaves" is used to de- 

 scribe that disease of the horse which otherwise is 

 known as " broken wind," or technically as " emphy- 

 sema of the lungs." This ailment, which is incurable 

 when thoroughly established and to which a ten- 

 dency is inherited by the offspring of an affected 

 sire or dam, is characterized by the following symp- 

 toms : Double, bellows-like action of the abdom- 

 inal muscles in breathing; short, suppressed cough, 

 usually accompanied by passage of gas from the 

 rectum ; gluttonous appetite ; harsh, staring coat 



