484 THE DISEASES AND DISOEDEKS OF THE OX. 



breathing becomes arduous, the blood circulates with difi&culty 

 through the blood-vessels going to and from the stomach, and 

 its course is diverted from the stomach to the brain. A kind of 

 stupor, as shown by an unwillingness to move and so on, rapidly 

 supervenes, and the suffering animal abstains from both eating 

 and drinking. The breathing becomes distressed as the gas 

 accumulates in the rumen, causing it to press upon the lungs ; 

 and then it becomes still more distressed and laboured, and at 

 length the animal pants and moans in great pain. The nostrils 

 are dilated so that as much air as possible may be inhaled; 

 saliva dribbles from the mouth, and though there are eructations 

 of gas, there is no eructation of food, rumination being sus- 



h'm. 60. 

 This illustration depicts a beast suffering from hoven. The rumen is so 

 enormously distended that the ox looks as if its left side would almost burst 

 open. 



pended. As the accumulation of gas increases, the animal pants 

 and moans, and standing in one position, with arched back and 

 wild, bloodshot, staring eyes, it is a picture of misery, which is 

 truly characteristic. The protrusion of the eyeballs, and wild 

 staring look of the poor creature, are caused by the accumulation 

 of gas to such an extent that the passage of air into the lungs is 

 obstructed. 



As suffocation is impending, the animal staggers to and fro 

 helplessly, and, insensibility at length supervening, he falls pros- 

 trate to the ground. In this condition he may vomit, and thus 

 relieve himself in some degree. In some instances, so continuous 

 and violent are the retchings, that the rumen is ruptured and death 

 ensues. Unless curative methods are employed in cases of acute 

 tympanites, death results in this manner, or from suffocation, or 



