COMMON AILMENTS OF CATTLE 159 



prevent the spread of the infection to the other teats of the cow 

 and to the other cows of the herd. The inflammation of the udder 

 frequently occurring at calving is not the same thing as garget. 

 (16, 17, 18) 



251. Bloat. — In this trouble the paunch fills up with* gas and 

 there is an excessive distention of the left side in front of and above 

 the flank. Bloat is caused by eating spoiled feed or too much 

 green feed, particularly when the cow is not used to it. The trouble 

 frequently occurs when cows are first turned out on legume pasture. 

 It may occur with any kind of feed. Mild cases of bloat may be 

 relieved by giving a good physic and keeping the animal's mouth 

 open so as to let the gas escape. If a piece of fork handle is tied in 

 the mouth as a bit, the cow chews the stick and gas comes up. If 

 a bloated animal is kept moving this stimulates the action of the 

 rumen and may help liberate the gas. 



If none of the above remedies relieve the trouble it is necessary 

 to pierce the flank and let out the gas, for if bloat continues death 

 may result from suffocation or from rupture of the stomach. For 

 piercing the flank, special instruments, a trocar and cannula, are 

 needed, but a pocket knife may be used in an emergency. This is 

 a task for a veterinarian, unless one knows just how to do it. 



252. Indigestion. — This trouble may result from a variety of 

 causes the most common of which are overeating, spoiled feed 

 and a sudden change in the ration. The first symptom is refusal 

 of food and frequently the cow stops chewing her cud. The manure 

 is usually abnormal, sometimes hard and dry, sometimes liquid. 

 In severe cases the bowels may refuse to move. Treatment con- 

 sists of giving one pound or one pound and a half of epsom salts, 

 or a quart or more of raw linseed oil. When the cow commences 

 to show appetite again a light palatable ration should be given. 



253. Foot rot. — This trouble, also called foul foot, is an 

 infectious disease generally occurring between the toes. The first 

 symptom is lameness and there is a foul odor due to the discharge 

 of pus. Once foot rot is present in the herd it is difficult to get rid 

 of it, because the germs live in the mud around the barn. The 

 first treatment should be to make sure that the affected animal 



