210 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



venting their expansion, and if not relieved, the anima 

 dies of su£Focation. Other tender and luxuriant grasses, 

 as well as potatoes, turnips, and other succulent food 

 will produce this disorder, when taken in excess 

 Homed cattle are most liable to this disease ; sheep and 

 swine are also subject to it, and horses do not always 

 escape. 



Prevention. Do not turn cattle upon luxuriant feed 

 until the dew or rain is exhaled ; and if changed from a 

 lean pasture, or when empty, allow them to remain but 

 a short time, especially at first. Give salt often. 



Symptoms. The paunch is swelled enormously, in 

 severe cases, i" the last stages of this disease, the 

 tongue hangs out of the mouth ; the eyes are protru- 

 berant, and the recrum, or last gut, is distended exter- 

 nally ; and the beast f-'lls, and exhibits signs of the most 

 severe pain. 



Treatment. In mild cases, or in the first stages of 

 almost any case, drenches of various kinds will afford 

 relief; but in a severe case, far advanced, the passages 

 of the stomach are not only si -^-^ed by the great disten- 

 tion, but the stomach is so full tiiat medicines will not 

 have their usual effect ; and sometimes, without imme- 

 diate relief, by the probang, or by tapping, the animal 

 must die. A leaden tube may be useJ to open a pas- 

 sage to the stomach, and ihe medicine may be turned 

 down through it. In some cases, farmers have opened 

 a passage with a flexible stick, and let off ;he gas, and 

 in this way a passage may be opened for med-cine. All 

 medicines given for this disease should be pou "d down 

 suddenly, that they may enter the paunch [S Page 

 185.] 



Remedy. Make a quart of lye of wood ashes, nd 

 turn it down. Judge by the taste whether it is as stri 

 as can be taken safely. The alkali neutralizes the gase 

 and the swelling subsides. 



Another. Give volatile spirit of ammonia, a table 

 spoonful to an ox or a cow. 



Another. Give a tea-cupful of spirits of turpentine 

 diffused in oil. In this way, several pairs of oxen were 

 saved, in very severe cases, which it was thought would 

 prove fatal. The turpentine is more safe in oU. 



