36 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



form, terminating fatally within a few hours. The aciiteness of 

 the attack depends on the character and quantity of feed eaten. 

 If a large quantity of green feed is eaten, fermentation occurs 

 and the animal may die within a few hours. The swelling on 

 the left side has a doughy feel. It is not as elastic and resonant 

 as in bloat, even when complicated by some gas formation. The 

 animal may stop ruminating, refuse to eat, and act dull. In the 

 more severe cases the respirations are hurried and labored, the 

 pulse small and quick and the expression of the face indicates 

 pain. Colicky pains sometimes occur. Death may occur from 

 shock or asphyxia. 



The treatment is both preventive and curative. This disease 

 can be prevented by using the necessary precautions to prevent 

 animals from overeating. If gas forms, the trocar and cannula 

 should be used. A drench of from one to two pounds of Epsom 

 or Glauber's salts should be given. Sheep may be given from 

 four to six ounces of Epsom or Glauber's salts. We should 

 endeavor to stimulate the movement of the paunch by pressure 

 on the flank with the hand, throwing cold water on the wall of 

 the abdomen and by hypodermic injections of strychnine. Ru- 

 menotomy should be performed when necessary. This operation 

 consists in opening the walls of the abdomen and rumen, and 

 removing a part of the contents of the rumen. This is not a 

 dangerous operation when properly performed, and should not 

 be postponed until the animal is too weak to make a recovery. 



Impaction of the Omasum. — This disease may occur as a 

 complication of other forms of acute indigestion and diseases 

 accompanied by an abnormal body temperature. Feeds that are 

 dry and innutritions commonly cause it. Other causes are an 

 excessive quantity of feed, sudden changes in the diet and drink- 

 ing an insufficient quantity of water. 



As in other diseases of the stomach, the appetite is dimin- 

 ished, rumination ceases or occurs at irregular intervals, and the 

 animal is more or less feverish. Bloating and constipation may 



