TIIR DISEASES OF CATTLE. 103 



strument must occasionally, be drawn forth a little or pushed 

 forward, as the case requires, and when it becomes obstructed 

 with any portion of the contents of the stomach, a quill or 

 straw may be used to clear the obstruction, and as the gas es- 

 capes and the paunch or bowels recede, the canula, which is 

 about six inches in length, must be pushed forward as far as it 

 will go. 



Relief may sometimes be obtained by passing the probang 

 (see cut of instruments) into the stomach, and I should advise^ 

 its use in such cases as those attended by eructation of wind by 

 the mouth, from the stomach. 



DISTENTION OF THE RUMEN WITH FOOD. 



It occasionally happens that the function of the stomach, as 

 a whole, or a part of the ^ame, become impaired ; the food is 

 then very apt to accumulate in the rumen ; or it may happen 

 that an animal has partaken voraciously of meal or corn, 

 which becoming saturated with the fluid found in the paunch, 

 swells to such an extent that there is danger of its bursting. 



Symptoms. — At first the animal is noticed to be uneasy and 

 frequently shifts its position ; occasionally moans ; the left 

 flank is swollen and hard. This swelling may be determined 

 by a person taking a position directly behind the animal ; he 

 will immediately perceive the enlargement. On striking the 

 part with the hand, it has no drum-like — tympanitic — sound, 

 as in hoven or bloat, but has a solid sound, showing that the 

 distinction is owing to the presence of a quantity of solid food. 

 Should the medicinal preparations fail to relieve the animal, 

 rumination then ceases, the symptoms become aggravated, the 

 brain sympathizes, unconsciousness and convulsions occur, 

 which soon end in death. 



Treatment. — In cases of extreme distention, it is all folly to 

 waste time in administering medicine ; an incision, about five 

 inches in length should be made through the left flank into the 

 stomach ; then by means of the hand the indigestible mass is 

 to be removed ; this should be done carefully so as to prevent 

 the food falling into the abdominal cavity. The incision made 



