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with it, through inducing acute indigestion with head symptoms ; wliile 

 in the second place some pecuhar chemical action seems to take place 

 just when the rye is blooming, so that if large quantities are consumed 

 about this time, the rye has a peculiar toxic action, producing delirium, 

 followed by coma. Symptoms : If a milch cow, she suddenly drops off 

 her milk ; stops feeding and chewing the cud ; the hair looks dingy and 

 on end ; the sides appear flat, the belly tucked up, and the patient is 

 very listless. This goes on for 36 or 48 hours, when the pupil of the eye 

 is noticed to be dilated, and the eye has a starry appearance ; the 

 breathing is slow and heavy, and the anunal stands over on its fetlocks. 

 At the commencement, there is slight diarrhoea, followed by consider- 

 able constipation, due to the want of nervous energy in the stomachs 

 and bowels. If large dosfes of purgative medicine have been given, 

 there may be a watery discharge from the bowels, but httle or no faeces. 

 At this stage, the animal begins to press its head against the wall, and 

 snores loudly ; or, when let out, seems quite blind, rushing forward 

 or backward, and tumbling over any object which may be in the way. 

 Treatment : The administration of strong saline purgatives, such as 

 Epsom or Glauber's salts, are to be strongly condemned. In the first 

 stages, raw linseed oil, in from 8 to 10 ounce doses, mixed with one 

 drachm of quinine and a teacupful of whisky, should be given every six 

 or eight hours ; plenty of boiled gruel, linseed jelly, and bran, or hay 

 tea and cold water, should be offered the animal to drink, the object 

 being to get some food into the stomach, to neutralize, or, at least, 

 modify, the action of that which is causing the complaint. Once the 

 patient begins to press its head against the wall, the best plan is to 

 have it slaughtered. 



306. As already stated, the arrangement of the intestines of cattle 

 is quite different to that of the horse ; they are much smaller, but 

 a great deal longer. On account of cattle being of a less excitable 

 temperament, they do not suffer so much as the horse from bowel 

 complaints, but are more prone to stomach derangements. Occasion- 

 ally we have spasmodic colic, manifested by the animal kicking at 

 its belly, lying down and getting up frequently, and switching and 

 twisting the tail. These cases are sometimes readily enough relieved. 



