DISEASES OF THE STOMACH. 681 



that the swelling, resonant when tapped with the fingers in 

 tympanites, is dough-like and pits on pressure. In some 

 instances I have noticed that the pitting remains for a consi- 

 derable period after the pressure is removed, indicating that 

 the coats of the rumen have lost their muscular tonicity, and 

 that its movement is in abeyance, or entirely lost. T have also 

 noticed that in such cases medicinal remedies do harm until 

 the viscus has been to some extent emptied, and that the best 

 method of doing this is to perform rumenotony before the powers 

 of life become exhausted. 



The best method of performing this operation is as follows : — 

 After securing the animal by the nose, with its right side to 

 the wall, plunge a sharp bistoury into the rumen, commencing 

 the puncture midway between the last rib and the spine of the 

 ilium, and from four to five inches from the points of the trans- 

 verse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, cut downwards until the 

 wound is large enough to admit the hand. 



Some practitioners recommend that a towel or handkerchief 

 be introduced into the wound, in order to prevent the food fall- 

 ing into the peritoneal cavity. I find it much better to place 

 a suture at the lower part of the incision through the lips of the 

 double wound. When this is done, the contents are to be 

 removed by the hand ; the parts are then to be thoroughly 

 cleaned ; the incision in the stomach to be first stitched up, its 

 edges being turned inwards, so as to get the peritoneal coat into 

 apposition. The best material for the sutures is small catgut 

 or fiddle-string. The external wound may then be closed with a 

 stronger suture of strong waxed twine, over Avhich a stiff pitch 

 plaster it to be applied. Cathartics are to be administered, 

 succeeded by vegetable bitters, more especially nux vomica, and 

 the animal is to be carefully fed. In less urgent cases, where 

 the rumen still retains some tone and power of movement, 

 removal of the impaction is to be effected by cathartics and 

 stimulants, the best cathartic for this purpose being an admix- 

 ture of croton, aloes, and sulphate of magnesia, succeeded by 

 a plentiful supply of fluids, treacle, and an occasional dose of 

 ginger or ammonia. To restore tone to the rumen when debili- 

 tated, common salt dissolved in cold water has been recommended. 

 This can do no harm, and failing other remedies, may be given 

 in tympanitis and impaction. 



