DERANGEMENTS AND DISEASES OF THE 



ALIMENTARY CANAL, AND 



ACCESSORY ORGANS. 



295. — While in the horse, the large intestine is the organ most 

 frequently affected ; cattle suffer principally from derangements and 

 diseases of the four stomachs. 



296. Hoven, or Tympanites. — This complaint is due to the 

 distension of the rumen with gases, is of very frequent occurrence, and 

 is both acute, chronic, a.nd inteymiUent . The causes are many; but one, the 

 most common, is due to cattle being turned on to the clover fog 

 and gorging themselves. Hoven, from such a cause, is very acute 

 and dangerous, and frequently fatal if not speedily relieved. Eating 

 too much wet grass or frosted turnips, or drinking cold, frosted or 

 snow water are also frequent causes of tympanites. For the Treat- 

 ment of such cases, nothing answers better than one wine-glassful 

 of turpentine in one pint raw linseed oil. Should this not give 

 immediate relief, the patient must be punctured on the left side with 

 a trocar and canula {see Plate LI., No. 6) ; if this instrument is not to be 

 had, then plunge the large blade of a pocket knife into the stomach 

 and turn it cross ways, when the gas will escape. Fermentation of food 

 is another common cause, and nothing is worse for this than an over- 

 feed of potatoes, followed by a hearty drink of cold-water. A beast 

 that has unfortunately gained access to a potato heap, and gorged itself, 

 should not be allowed any water for three or four days. It should 

 be fed on small quantities of rough straw, as distension from this cause 

 is extremely dangerous, the contents being of a yeasty character. 

 Treatment in such a case is to adminster two ounces bicarbonate of 

 soda in one pint of cold water and one pint of whisky ; or four ounces 

 of hyposulphite of soda in the same quantity of water and spirit. If 

 this does not give speedy relief, then the trocar and canula must be 

 inserted into the side, and the hyposulphite of soda and water, as 

 above, or a solution of chloride of lime, be injected into the stomach 



