174 INDIGESTION. 



of the rumen, and leads to restoration of peristaltic movement. The 

 gases pass into the omasum and abomasum, or in many cases make their 

 way into the oesophagus. The sudden impulses sometimes cause food to 

 be returned into the mouth, eructation recommences, and the gas accu- 

 mulated in the rumen is partially and progressively evacuated. This 

 manipulation is often practised in breeding districts, particularly in the 

 case of sheep, in which the disease occurs with the same characters. 

 The shepherd fixes the animal between his legs, and, thrusting the 

 extended fingers of either hand into the flanks, makes sudden, sharp 

 movements, which again set up eructation and get rid of the excess of gas. 



In Germany cold douches are often applied to the flanks. These 

 excite vaso-motor action and reflex peristaltic movements, which result 

 in eructations and in the evacuation of the rumen. But this is not a 

 very practical method, and necessitates arrangements which seldom 

 exist on sheep farms. 



The action of massage may be completed by administering stimulants 

 like wine, alcohol, or infusions of such aromatic plants as cummin, fennel, 

 peppermint, camomile, etc. These act first of all mechanically, by clear- 

 ing the terminal portion of the oesophagus. Furthermore, they stimulate 

 the mucous membrane of the rumen, causing reflex peristaltic contrac- 

 tions, and, as a consequence, circulation of the partly digested food ; 

 finally, the majority of them arrest fermentation. 



With the latter object, ether and assafoetida are also given. The use 

 of these drugs, however, entails disadvantages, and if the animal has 

 finally to be slaughtered renders the flesh unfit for consumption. 



The giving of absorbents is probably most widely practised. The 

 ammonia which many of them contain absorbs carbonic acid, thereby 

 diminishing the pressure of gas contained in the rumen, and therefore 

 the distension of the first gastric reservoirs. Unfortunately this action is 

 only temporary, and if the drug is given in too concentrated a form, the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth, of the oesophagus, and sometimes even 

 of the rumen and reticulum, may be irritated and inflamed, producing 

 lesions of stomatitis, pharyngitis, oesophagitis, contraction of the oeso- 

 phagus, etc., which after recovery from the acute condition may gravely 

 affect the animal's general health. A further drawback is that the flesh 

 rapidly acquires an ammoniacal odour. 



Perhaps the best internal treatment consists in administering purga- 

 tives such as hyposulphite or sulphate of soda or sulphate of magnesia, 

 in doses of 10 to 20 ounces, according to the animal's size, or, in the 

 case of pregnant animals, in small frequently repeated doses. These 

 check fermentation, and so arrest the evolution of gas, whilst by their 

 purgative properties they excite contraction of the gastric reservoirs and 

 cause eructation. 



