498 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



FOKEIGN BODIES IN THE RUMEN, THE RETI- 

 CULUM, AND THE ABOMASUM. 

 The presence of certain substances in the two first stomachs 

 of ruminants is not v^ry uncommon. These bodies bring on 

 indigestion, produce a tendency to chew the cud irregularly, and 

 also an increase of that particular depravity of appetite in 

 accordance with which the peculiar substances were originally 

 swallowed. Needles have been known to pass from the rumen or 

 reticulum to the heart, where they necessarily produce great 

 mischief and disturbance of the normal cardiac functions. In 

 cases where articles of this nature have been taken in by a beast, 

 there may be vomition, tympany more or less permanent, and 

 general anaemia. Parasites, and calculi, especially those which 

 consist essentially of concretions of hair, are sometimes present 

 in the rumen. The Amphistoma conicum is a parasite which is 

 similar in appearance to the papillae in the deep saccules of the 

 paunch. Tape-worms also have been found in the rumen, and 

 the Cysticercus tenuicollis is sometimes attached to its outer 

 surface. 



'* Hair-balls " result from a habit which cattle have of licking 

 themselves or one another, whereby a great deal of hair may be 

 swallowed. The hair is mingled with particles of food, bound 

 together into a mass by means of the mucus which is present in 

 the rumen, and impregnated more or less markedly with salts of 

 lime. These become round, owing to the movements of the 

 stomach, or they may be polygonal with rounded edges, if there 

 be many present. The balls are light, though of rather large 

 size. Their weight is from a few ounces to as much as seven 

 pounds. As a rule, they are formed around a small piece of 

 metal -or a stone which has been swallowed. When of rather 

 small size, they may be passed up into the mouth and rejected ; 

 but animals have been choked by larger balls being stopped, as 

 they are passed up the gullet. Hair-balls may be found in very 

 young animals. They may also be present in the abomasum, or 

 fourth stomacn. 



Again, what are known as bezoars, or calculi, may at times be 

 present in the abomasum of sheep. Now, in past times it was 

 believed that these bezoars were produced by magic, and not a 



