680 SPOEADIC DISEASES. 



eructations, dribbling of saliva from the mouth, and some degree 

 of uneasiness ; rumination is suspended ; the bowels soon become 

 constij^ated, and if the tympanites is extreme, there will be a 

 prominence and wildness of the eye which is characteristic of 

 obstruction to the entrance of air into the lungs. 



The moan or grunt, which is heard not only in tympanites, but 

 in various forms of indigestion, even when unaccompanied by 

 distension, is similar to that of pleuro-pneumonia ; and on this 

 account indigestion has been mistaken for pleuro-pneumonia, 

 and credit claimed for curing the latter disease when it had no 

 existence. Tlie moan of indigestion is rather more prolonged, 

 and resembles a groan more than the grunt of pleuro-pneumonia. 

 The gases evolved have been found to be composed of carburetted 

 hydrogen, sulphuretted hydrogen, carbonic acid, and in some 

 cases carbonic oxide. Unless relieved, the animal will die, either 

 from pressure of the distended stomach upon the diaphragm, 

 causing suffocation, or from the absorption of noxious gases into 

 the circulation. In some instances, tympanites is chronic, and, 

 as already stated, may depend upon the presence of foreign 

 bodies in the rumen. 



Treatment. — In very urgent casees, the most effectual treat- 

 ment is that of puncturing the rumen with a trocar, and allowing 

 the gases to escape througli the cannula. The operation is to be 

 performed on the most prominent part of the swelling, and at 

 eqvial distances from the spine of the ilium, last rib, and trans- 

 verse processes of the lumbar vertebrte. "When the symptoms are 

 not very urgent, tympanites can be relieved by stimulants and 

 stomachics, such as carbonate of ammonia, turpentine, alcoholic 

 preparations, or the vegetable spices, particularly if given in 

 warm ale. After the symptoms of urgency have been removed, 

 cathartics are to be prescribed, such as salts, with croton and 

 aromatics, care being taken that the animal be kept upon a 

 restricted diet for some days after recovery. When the tym- 

 panitis becomes chronic, stomachic stimulants, particularly nux 

 vomica, are to be prescribed ; but if, along with the attention to 

 dieting, they fail to give relief, it may be necessary to open the 

 rumen, when the cause may be detected and removed. 



IMPACTION OF THE EUMEN WITH SOLID MATTERS. 



The symptoms are similar to the above, with the exception 



