282 THE HOOVES. 



by loss of appetite, it can generally be cured by with- 

 holding food at first, and then feeding but slightly till 

 the system is renovated by dieting. 



Purgative drinks will often cure cases of red water, 

 if taken in season. 



A purgative is often necessary for cows after being 

 turned into a fresh and luxuriant pasture, when they 

 are apt to become bound from over-feeding; but con- 

 stipation does not so often follow a change from dry to 

 green food in spring, as from a poor pasture in summer 

 to one where they obtain much better feed. 



The Hoove or Hovex is brought on by a derange- 

 ment of the digestive organs, occasioned by over-feed- 

 ing on green and luxuriant clover, or other luxuriant 

 food. It is simply the distension of the first stom- 

 ach by carbonic acid gas. In later stages, after fer- 

 mentation of the contents of the stomach has com- 

 menced, hydrogen gas is also found. The green food, 

 being gathered very greedily after the animal has been 

 kept on dry and perhaps unpalatable hay, is not sent 

 forward so rapidly as it is received, and remains to 

 overload and clog the stomach, till this organ ceases or 

 loses the power to act upon it. Here it becomes moist 

 and heated, begins to ferment, and produces a gas 

 which distends the paunch of the animal, which often 

 swells up enormously. The cow is in great pain, breath- 

 ing with difficulty, as if nearly suffocating. Then the body 

 grows cold, and, unless relief is at hand, the cow dies. 



Prevention is both cheaper and safer than cure ; but 

 if by neglect, or want of proper precaution, the animal 

 is found in this suffering condition, relief must be 

 afforded as soon as possible, or the result will be fatal. 



A hollow flexible tube, introduced into the gullet, 

 will sometimes afford a temporary relief till other means 

 can be had, by allowing a part of the gas to escape ; 



