748 DISEASES AND ABNORMALITIES. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Indigestion. 



Indigestion sometimes attacks young animals soon after birth, and is 

 perhaps most frequently observed in calves, seldomer in lambs ; in foals, 

 and the young of carnivora, it is rarely met with. 



Causes. 



The principal cause would appear to be too rich milk, or even milk 

 difficult of digestion from its poorness, or its containing some extraneous 

 ingredient to which the young creature is not accustomed. The quantity 

 of milk may also prove as potent a cause as its quality. Therefore it 

 often happens, that too copious sucking after abstinence will give rise to 

 an attack, and among calves reared by hand, those which receive artificial 

 food of improper quality or in undue quantity, are frequently the subjects 

 of indigestion. An alteration in the milk of the Cow, produced by 

 fatigue, or bad food or water, will also lead to the same accident ; while 

 altered secretions in the stomach of the calf — as too much acidity — will 

 undoubtedly cause coagulation of the milk, and, as a consequence, indi- 

 gestion. 



Indigestion is often witnessed in high-bred calves which are unnaturally 

 forced, in order to produce greater and premature development. 



Symptoms. 



The young animal looks dull and dejected, and evinces uneasiness or 

 suffering ; the movements are torpid ; the coat is dry and staring ; it 

 yawns now and again, and there are sharp gaseous eructations which 

 cause the animal to elevate its head. Soon it refuses to suck or to par- 

 take of food, and the nausea is more marked ; there may be vomiting of 

 coagulated milk ; the breath has an acid odor, and the tongue is coated 

 with a -white or greyish matter ; the abdomen is swollen and tympanitic ; 

 and pressure made towards the upper part of the right side, as well as 

 along the cartilages of the ribs, causes pain ; flatus is expelled when 

 diarrhoea — the faeces being yellow and foetid — sets in, which is frequent — 

 though constipation is not rare ; and at this period symptoms of colic 

 are often noted, and the respiration is at times hurried. The diarrhoea 

 is a means of cure ; though should it persist too long, inflammation of 

 the stomach and intestines may ensue. Then there is emaciation, the 

 abdomen is retracted and flanks tucked up ; fever is present ; great pain 

 is manifested, and the dejections are small in quantity, and consists of a 

 yellow glairy mucus, mixed with lymph or false membranes. 



Indigestion runs its course rapidly in the calf — in the majority of cases 

 only occupying two, three, or four days. It may be considered a serious 

 condition, as death often occurs. As it is frequently induced by causes- 

 which remain in operation for some time, even when recovery takes place 

 relapses are to be apprehended ; and at last the stomach and intestines 

 become inflamed, and enteritis brings about a fatal termination. At the 

 best, it causes loss of condition, and often retards growth. 



Treatment. 



Preventive treatment is to be based on the predisposing or exciting 

 causes just enumerated. Over-repletion with milk should be guarded 



