506 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



green food for a time, in the case of animals which have been 

 taken up from grass in order to cure them. 



There is a very severe kind of indigestion which is known 

 under the name of " gastro-enteritis " of calves. In the adult 

 ox, as our readers know, the rumen is very large ; but it must 

 be remembered that it is only after the young animal has been 

 weaned that this first stomach gains its large increase of size. 

 In calves the abomasum is the largest of the four compartments, 

 and it is the receptacle in which the milk accumulates and then 

 coagulates, and then undergoes the process of being digested. 

 Manifestly the milk should be taken in suitable and not too 

 great quantity; and, moreover, it should be of good quality. 

 Sometimes, however, calves, especially those which are fed from 

 the pail, take in too much milk — more than can be digested. 

 The result is that the stomach becomes laden with a hard mass 

 of solid curd, whereby death may ensue in consequence of the 

 engorgement. Inflammation sets in, extends to the intestines, 

 causing an acrid discharge in them, the consequence of which is 

 expressed by the name " white scour." They may, however, on 

 the other hand, be obstinately constipated. 



It is well to administer alkalies in rather large doses, since, 

 by their action, the mass of curd may be broken up, and the acid 

 and acrid secretion referred to may be checked. If profuse 

 diarrhoea comes on, stimulant tonics and cordials are useful in 

 addition to more active medicines. It is advisable to diminish 

 the milk allowed per day by one half, substituting linseed gruel 

 in its place. This, then, is one form of indigestion in calves, and 

 one which may be very serious. It leads us to the consideration 

 of another form. 



In calves which have been partially weaned, the abomasum 

 may be the seat of accumulation of food-material in excess, when 

 the first and third stomachs have not gained the power of 

 suitably preparing the food for the true stomach. This 

 engorgement may bring on obstinate constipation, and it is wise 

 to administer oil in these cases, no matter whether the bowels 

 be loose or confined. 



Chronic Indigestion. — Though the distinction between acute 

 and chronic indigestion cannot fail to be in large measure an 

 arbitrary one, still, as in so many other similar cases, it is a kind 

 of classification which furnishes a serviceable and convenient 



