THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 125 



and the other radical. The first consists in the return of the 

 intestine through the fissure in the spermatic cord, by quickly 

 driving an ox or raising his hind quarters in a stall ; this should 

 be tried soon after the first appearance of the disease ; when 

 this does not answer, the normal condition of the parts must 

 be restored by the taxis effected through the rectum. 



"Very often there may be a relapse, from the loose spermatic 

 cord and fissure of the peritoneum remaining in statu quo. 

 There are two methods of radical cure ; one by the introduc- 

 tion of the hand through an incision through the abdominal 

 walls, and the other by the rectum. Gierer always operates by 

 the rectum, and his method consists in the simple return of the 

 spermatic cord in contact with its natural point of attachment 

 against the abdominal wall. To eff*ect this a limited, succes- 

 sive, and slightly outdrawing traction, forwards, or from behind 

 forwards, of the intestine is effected ; and, having accomplished 

 this, the soft part of the thumb of the right hand, which is used 

 from the beginning of the operation, is applied through the coats 

 of the rectum in the lower and posterior part of the cord ; and, 

 with a jerk, or forward movement, the operation is completed. 



" Gierer says, that the introduction of the hand in the ab- 

 domen is only needed when, from the amount of intestine 

 imprisoned, it is difficult to feel the rudimentary spermatic cord ; 

 but, under these circumstances, inflammation and gangrene 

 would have ensued already, and the operation would therefore 

 be useless, and it is many years since he had occasion to per- 

 form it." 



FLATULENT COLIC. 



This disease is generally occasioned by some derangement 

 of the digestive organs, whereby the food, instead of being 

 properly digested, undergoes fermentation, and thus carbonic 

 acid gas, or sulphuretted hydrogen is evolved. It is attended 

 by considerable pain ; the animal will be very restless, con- 

 tinually lying down and getting up again ; discharges gas 

 from the anus ; strikes the belly occasionally with the hind 

 feet, and the abdomen is enlarged. 

 11* 



