294 Diseases of Cattle. 



of these supposed diseases really refer principally to inflam- 

 mation of the fourth or true stomach. The third compart- 

 ment, indeed, participates in the disorder ; as do also often 

 the first and second stomachs ; but the main and principal 

 seat of the morbid change is in the abomasum ; thus shoTV - 

 ing the disease to be a true gastritis, or inflammation of the 

 stomach. 



Causes. — The causes of the disease are sudden changes in 

 the food, or in its condition. Sometimes the consumption of 

 damp or mouldy* hay will produce it. More frequently it 

 appears when the animals eat ravenously of spring grass, 

 clover or green corn. So also an excess of corn meal, cotton 

 cake, or similar dry and heating food; or irritating sub- 

 stances, as wild mustard, or various poisonous articles are 

 liable to bring it on. 



Symptoms. — A highly excited state of the nervous system 

 is a distinguishing symptom. It is shown by a glaring eye, 

 madness, staggers or fits, or by stupidity and palsy of the 

 hind quarters. 



The bowels are at first loose, but this is soon followed by 

 an obstinate constipation. The animal often strains vio- 

 lently, and passes both blood and watery substances ; and a 

 hard swelling may sometimes be detected on the right side, 

 owing to impaction of the stomach. In many cases swelling 

 of the whole bowels and stomachs comes on early in the di- 

 sease, causing severe colicky pains, and greatly adding to the 

 animal's suffering. 



After death, the contents of the third stomach are gen- 

 erally found hard and dry, the coats of the fourth stomach 

 red and inflamed, or pale and soft, and the bowels filled with 

 gas and watery, half digested food. The fluid condition of 

 the contents of the intestines shows that the obstinate consti- 

 pation is due to palsy of the bowels. 



