390 ACUTE INDIGESTION IN CATTLE. 



sent. When it is occasioned by green food, the evolu- 

 tion of gas is enormous, and the tympanitis gives a drum- 

 like distention to the belly ; but when dry food, as chaff, 

 bran, &c. &c. has been taken, the impacted matter does not 

 distend so quickly, and the symptoms are less acute ; they 

 resemble those of constipation ; and sounding the side, 

 gives back a response as though a solid matter were hit 

 against. It is thought to be more likely to occur in warm 

 and wet weather than in any other ; and if such be the case, 

 it must arise from the state of the vegetable matter and the 

 surrounding warmth both being favourable to fermenta- 

 tion. 



The treatment will consist in attempting to lessen the 

 distention by evacuating the distending gas, or otherwise 

 try to neutralize it. Purgatives have little or no effect. 

 The evacuation of the gases is caused by the introduction 

 of a probang, which is passed down the oesophagus ; or it 

 is brought about by puncturing the side, when the distention 

 is urgent, or the want of assistance, renders it imperative 

 to evacuate the gas immediately, to prevent suffocation ; a 

 puncture is therefore at once made into it, which, among 

 graziers, is called paunching. When nothing better is at 

 hand, this may be performed with a lancet,''or even a pen- 

 knife ; the wound made being kept open by the introduc- 

 tion of a piece of hollow elder or common wood ; the 

 place of puncture being midway between the ileum or 

 haunchbone and the last rib, a span below the transverse 

 processes of the lumbar vertebrae on the left side, to which 

 the first stomach or paunch inclines. A cattle trochar 

 will, however, permit the gas to escape with certainty and 

 speed, and should always be used to make the puncture, in 

 preference to any other instrument. As soon as the air is 

 perfectly evacuated, and the paunch is observed to resume 

 its office, the trochar may be removed ; the wound being care- 

 fully closed by a pitch plaister, or other adhesive matter. 

 It is necessary to observe, that this operation is so simple 

 and safe, that, whenever a medical assistant cannot be ob- 

 tained, no person should hesitate a moment about doing it 

 himself The domestic remedies for lessening the disten- 

 tion, b)'' condensing the gas, have been various ; as oil of 

 turpentine, and particularly ammonia, a strong solution of 



