Hoven, 291 



HOVEN— BLOWN— IMPACTION OF THE HITMEN. 



Definition. — A form of indigestion in cattle, frequently- 

 accompanying other diseases, consisting of an unnatural dis- 

 tension of the rumen or first stomach by food, and by the 

 gases it gives off in the process of fermentation, or by gases 

 evolved from the walls of the organ. 



Causes. — In health this condition is brought on by over 

 feeding with clamp grasses, especially green clover. Almost 

 any food in excessive quantities may produce it. In various 

 diseases there is a secretion of gas from the inner coat of the 

 stomach, causing great and painful distension, sometimes 

 called '' tympanites/^ 



Symptoms. — There is a. swelling on the left side, which 



appears while the animal is feeding or shortly afterwards. 



The breathing is difficult and painful, becoming more so as 



the gas is generated and the swelling increases. This is 



manifested by the general appearance of the animal. There 



are expansion of the nostrils, moaning during expiration, 



belching, dribbling from the mouth and uneasiness. The 



animal loses his cud. The bowels are constipated ; and if 



the swelling is great, there ^^11 be a prominence and wild- 



ness of the eye, which is characteristic of obstruction to the 



entrance of air into the luno^s. 



... . ♦ 



Unless relieved, the animal will die from suffocation, from 



laceration of the stomach, or from blood poisoning from the 



gases. 



Treatmenti — In very severe cases, when the swelling is 

 from gases, the proper course is to plunge a trochar into the 

 rumen and allow the gas to escape through the canula. The 

 operation is to be performed on the most prominent part of 

 the swelling, and if the tube becomes choked by the contents 

 of the stomach, it must be cleaned out with a wire or stick. 



When the symptoms are not so urgent as to call for this 



