DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 



By A. J. Murray, JI. R. C. V. S. 

 [Revised by R. W. Hickman, V. M. D.] 



CHARACTER OF FEEDS AND FEEDING. 



Diseases of the digestive organs are very coniinon among cattle, 

 and may often be traced to defects in feeding. The first three stom- 

 achs of the larger ruminants hold the feed for a long time, during 

 which period it is subjected to macerating, mixing, and straining 

 processes in preparation for entrance into the fourth or true stomach. 

 The straining is accomplished through the medium of the manyplies 

 or book, while the paunch, or rumen, with its adjunct, the waterbag, 

 is concerned in the macerating, kneading, and mixing, as well as in 

 regurgitation for rumination or the chewing of the cud. The action 

 of the first three stomachs is merely preparatory to digestion. Thus 

 it would seem that as a result of their complex anatomical and func- 

 tional arrangement the feed of the ox, when of good quality and 

 Avholesome, is in the most favorable condition possible for the diges- 

 tive process when it reaches the fourth stomach, Avhere true diges- 

 tion first takes place. The location and arrangement of the stomachs 

 are shown in Plates I and II. 



If the feed is of improper character, or is so given that it can not 

 be cared for by the animal in a normal way, false fermentations 

 arise, causing indigestion, and j)ossibly, later, organic disease. In 

 feeding cattle there are a number of important considerations apart 

 from the economy of the ration, and some of these are noted below. 



Feeds must not be damaged by exposure to the weather, by frost, 

 by molds, or by deleterious fermentations. 



Damaged feeds retard or prevent digestion, and sometimes they 

 contain or cause to be generated substances that irritate the digestive 

 tract, or are distinctly jDoisonous to the animal. For example, hay 

 that was rained on severely during curing has not only lost a part of 

 its nutritive value through a washing-out process, but what remains 

 is not so readily available as in good hay. Eoots that have been 

 frozen are likely to irritate and injure the digestive tract. Grass 

 eaten with frost on it may cause severe indigestion. All moldy feeds 

 are not injurious, for some molds appear to have no influence on 

 the process of digestion, but those of other sj^ecies may not only 

 retard digestion and cause local injury to the digestive organs, but 

 may cause general poisoning of a severe and fatal type. 

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