IMPACTION OF THE RUMEN. 44:3 



a mistake being very easily made by an ignorant or inex- 

 perienced person. It is a very serious but by no means 

 uncommon condition. On percussion the resonant sound 

 given out in tympanites is found to be absent, and instead 

 there may be heard a dull dead sound. As the case pro- 

 gresses and becomes worse, the pulse increases in frequency, 

 the respirations become hurried, and the animal gives vent 

 to a sort of grunt at the end of each expiration. Occasion- 

 ally, when the rumen is crammed to overflowing, there may 

 be a slight regurgitation of food. 



Treatment. — The treatment consists in the administration 

 of powerful doses of cathartic medicines in conjunction 

 with stimulants. Magnesia sulphat. is perhaps the best 

 cathartic for the ox, and in certain cases where it is desired 

 to produce a speedy action of the bowels, ol. tiglii et 

 hydrarg. subchlorid. may be given. Aloes may also be given 

 in combination with magnesia sulphat., and frequently the 

 addition of nux vomica is also attended with great benefit. 

 If the contents of the rumen cannot be removed by medicine, 

 the operation of rumenotomy must be performed, and the 

 impacted mass within the rumen removed mechanically. 

 The operation is performed in the following way : make an 

 incision on the left side in the same place usually selected 

 for the operation of paracentesis abdominis. The incision 

 should be of considerable size, and made with a sharp 

 scalpel. The common integument and muscular tissue 

 should be divided first, after which, a smaller incision 

 should be made through the walls of the rumen. A napkin 

 or cloth should now be placed in such a way as to prevent 

 the ingesta falling into the peritoneal cavity. The greater 

 part of the ingesta should now be removed, after which the 

 lips of the wound in the rumen should be drawn together 

 and secured in place by carbolized catgut sutures ; after 

 which, the external wound should be closed in a similar 



