DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. . 31 



to promote digestion. Two ounces of camomile flowers should be 

 boiled for 20 minutes in a quart of water and the infusion on cooling 

 should be given to the affected animal. This may be repeated three 

 or four times a day. When constipation is present the following pur- 

 gative may be administered : One pound of Glauber's salt dissolved in 

 a quart of linseed tea and a pint of molasses. After this purgative 

 has acted, if there is a lack of appetite and the animal does not 

 ruminate regularly, the pow^der mentioned in remarks on the treat- 

 ment of chronic tympanites may be given according to directions. 

 The diet must be rather laxative and of an easily digestible character 

 after an attack of this form of indigestion. Feed should be given in 

 moderate quantities, as excess by overtaxing the digestive functions 

 may bring on a relapse. Ice-cold water should be avoided. 



INDIGESTION FROM DRINKING COLD WATER (COLIC). 



This disorder is produced by drinking copiously of cold water, 

 which arrests digestion and produces cramp of the fourth stomach, 

 probably of the other stomachs, and also of the bowels. 



Causes. — It is not customary for the ox to drink much water at 

 once. In fact, he usually drinks slowly and as if he were merely tast- 

 ing the water, letting some fall out at the corners of his mouth at 

 every mouthful. It would therefore seem to be contrary to the habits 

 of the ox to drink copiously; but we find that during hot weather, 

 when he has been working and is consequently very thirsty, if he 

 drinks a large quantity of cold water he may be immediately taken 

 with a very severe colic. Cows which are fed largely on dry hay 

 drink copiously, like the working ox, and become affected in precisely 

 the same manner. In such cases they are seized with a chill or fit of 

 trembling before the cramps come on. 



Symptoms. — There is some distension of the abdomen, but no accu- 

 mulation of gas. As the distension and pain occur immediately after 

 the animal has drunk the water, there can be no doubt as to the 

 exciting cause. 



Ti'eatnient. — Walk the animal about for 10 minutes before admin- 

 istering medicine, and this allows time for a portion of the contents 

 of the stomach to pass into the bowel, and renders it safer to give 

 medicine. In many cases the walking exercise and the diarrhea bring 

 about a spontaneous cure of this disorder, but as in some instances 

 the cramps and pains of the stomachs persist, one may give 1 ounce 

 of sulphuric ether and 1 ounce of tincture of opium, shaken up with 

 a pint of warm water, and repeat the dose in half an hour if the ani- 

 mal is not relieved. In an emergency when the medicine is not to be 

 had, a tablespoonful of powdered ginger may be administered in a 

 pint of warm water. 



