STOMACH LAVAGE 47 



On raising he won't want to straighten up in a nor- 

 mal position, but will crouch down, with his legs well 

 under him. Many will let themselves drop ; if so they 

 always emit a heavy grunt following. Most of them are 

 more careful and will make several efforts to lie down 

 before doing so. 



They roll violently for a short time, but soon get 

 up. Breathing becomes harder and shorter right along, 

 and if relief is not soon given, the animal is speedily be- 

 yond help. The bloating and also the severity of the 

 pain, of course, can be temporarily relieved by the trocar, 

 an instrument I very seldom use. 



Treatment. — In these cases confine the animals 

 securely as directed before, for they are very uneasy 

 from the distended stomach and intestines. It's an ex- 

 ception when I tap an animal, but it is sometimes neces- 

 sary. I rely almost altogether on the use of the stomach 

 tube. In eight out of every ten cases as soon as I get 

 the return of the fluids and solids from the stomach 

 started the patient will become easy and m.any will not 

 move until the tube is ready to be withdrawn. 



In these cases you may look for from two quarts 

 to three gallons of mixed feed, according to what is fed. 

 In our town it is usually cracked corn and bran, some- 

 times shorts instead, rarely oats. It is not an uncom- 

 mon thing to get four gallons of solid corn and bran 

 from the operating room floor after I have finished, this 

 in addition to a certain amount which drains into the 

 sewer with the fluids. 



I am sure that to get results in these cases one must 

 have a double stomach tube, because the feed is sour and 



