^8 veterinary lectures 



portion of the large intestine, is narrow and without bands or furrows, 

 and is arranged in irregular coils, and finally ends in the rectum. 



293. Sheep. — The alimentary canal in sheep resembles that of 

 cattle throughout. 



DERANGEMENTS AND DISEASES OF THE 

 ALIMENTARY CANAL AND ACCESSORY ORGANS. 



294. While in the horse the large intestine is the organ most fre- 

 quently affected, cattle suffer principally from derangements and 

 diseases of the four stomachs. 



295 Hoven, or Tympanites, an overdistension of the rumen 

 with gases, is of very frequent occurrence, and is both acute, chronic, 

 and intermittent. The causes are many ; but one, the most common, 

 is due to cattle being turned on to the clover fog and gorging them- 

 selves. Hoven from such a cause is very acute and dangerous, and 

 frequently fatal if not speedily relieved. Eating too much wet grass 

 or frosted turnips, or drinking cold, frosted, or snow water are also 

 frequent causes of tympanites. For the Treatment of such cases 

 nothing answers better than 1 wineglassful of turpentine in 1 pint 

 of raw linseed oil. Should this not give immediate relief, the 

 patient must be punctured on the left side with a trocar and cannula 

 (Plate LIV., No. 6) ; if this instrument is not to be had, then 

 plunge the large blade of a pocket-knife into the stomach and turn 

 it crossways, when the gas will escape. Fermentation of food is 

 another common cause, and nothing is worse for this than an over- 

 feed of potatoes, followed by a hearty drink of cold water. A beast 

 that has unfortunately gained access to a potato-heap and gorged 

 should not be allowed any water for three or four days. It should 

 be fed on small quantities of rough straw, as distension from this 

 cause is extremely dangerous, the contents being of a yeasty 

 character. Treatment in such a case is to administer 2 ounces of 

 bicarbonate of soda in 1 pint of cold water and 1 pint of whisky, or 

 4 ounces of hyposulphite of soda in the same quantity of water and 

 spirit. If this does not give speedy relief, then the trocar and 



