638 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



In the case of this disease appearing in the adult, the belly is 

 distended, and if one hand be placed against the abdominal wall, 

 while the opposite side of the abdomen is percussed, a wave of 

 fluid may be detected. Dropsical swellings appear on the belly 

 and under the chest. The respiration is thoracic in character, 

 and the animal becomes gradually more and more anaemic. 



The treatment must be adapted to the removal of the primary 

 cause of the complaint. The strength must be sustained with 

 stimulant tonics. Many remedies have been tried, but with' 

 very doubtful success. Spirit of nitrous ether lowers arterial 

 tension, and, by relaxing the renal vessels, it acts as a diuretic, 

 and it also has a diaphoretic action on the skin. The dose is 

 about two fluid ounces. Water should only be allowed in 

 small quantities. Salts of iron given alternately with vegetable 

 tonics or digitalis, which is useful as a sedative and for its- 

 action on the kidneys, may be tried by the veterinarian. Pro- 

 bably he may in some cases think well to tap the belly, using 

 a small trocar-and-canula, and making the puncture midway 

 between the umbilicus and the iliac bone, the instrument being 

 inserted gently. The reason why the fluid is not absorbed! 

 naturally is that the stomata of the peritoneum are plugged with 

 lymph. 



We now proceed to deal shortly with various disorders of an 

 allied nature. 



Imperforate anus occurs most frequently in calves. Some- 

 times the anal opening is closed up with skin. Sometimes the 

 anus itself is perfectly formed, but at a little distance from the 

 external orifice there is a membranous partition. Sometimes 

 the large intestine may terminate in a cul-de-sac. In its efforts 

 to discharge the rectal contents, the young animal strains 

 violently. If either of the first two conditions is present, the best 

 plan is to divide the membrane by means of two crucial incisions. 

 If, however, the intestine ends blindly, an attempt may be made 

 to reach the blind end and open it, and then to sew the edges 

 of the opened end to the edges of the cutaneous incision. 



Mechanical distention of the rectum with hard pellets of 

 meconium is sometimes so serious a matter as to necessitate rhe^ 

 removal of them either by means of the oiled forefinger or in 

 any other suitable manner. 



Piles or haemorrhoids are tumours situated in the terminal 



