THE HOOVE. 107 



now "well known and in extensive use — Chloride of Lime. The 

 practitioner, then, after having, by means of Read's probang, got rid 

 of the h3'drogen already extricated, provides for the absorption or 

 disappearance of any that may afterwards be formed, in the foHovving 

 manner : — he dissolves two drachms of the chloride of lime in the 

 form of powder, in a quart or three pints of water, and injects this 

 into the stomach by means of Read's pump. The chlorine has an 

 afhnity for lime — in virtue of that affinity it had combined with it and 

 formed chloride of lime; but, having a much stronger affinity for 

 hydrogen, it rapidly quits the lime and unites with the hydrogen, 

 either then existing in the stomach, or as it may be afterwards extri- 

 cated during the process of fermentation, and forms muriatic acid ; 

 and by the wonderful diminution of bulk that follows this new com- 

 bination of hydrogen, the distension of the stomach is at once, and, 

 as it were, magically removed. 



There are then left in the stomach muriatic acid and the lime which 

 has lost its chlorine. These are highl}'^ caustic substances, and might 

 threaten to be detrimental, but their continued presence in the stomach 

 is beautifully provided against, for between the muriatic acid and the 

 lime there is also a strong affinity ; and these substances hasten to 

 unite ; and the result is a harmless neutral salt, muriate of lime. 



The practitioner on cattle will highly prize this remedy for hoove, 

 and will see other ways in which it may be usefully employed. 



It is proper to observe that there are several other medicaments 

 which have been found of rrreat service in this disease, such as lime- 

 water, potash, hartshorn, and particularly sulphuric ether. About an 

 ounce and a half of hartshorn may be given in a pint and a half of 

 water, unless the symptoms are so urgent as to threaten immediate 

 suffocation: then the flexible tube, if at hand, should be used ; or, if 

 not, the trochar, or the knife, plunged into the flank. If the symptoms 

 should denote any inflammation, ether will be preferable as a medi- 

 cine, as it promptly condenses the gases : an ounce may be given in 

 a pint of water. If the symptoms are produced by green food there 

 is less probability of inflammation than if the food has been previously 

 dry. 



It is very important to distinguish between distension of the paunch 

 produced by meteriozation, or the production of gas, and that occa- 

 sioned wholly or in part by the large mass of food itself. The nature 

 of the diet will in some measure assist our judgment. If it has con- 

 sisted of roots, such as potatoes, the obstruction will probably be 

 mechanical ; and then, though the symptoms may not be so painful 

 or sudden, the danger is yet greater. There is generally some in- 

 flammation of the digestive organs, and the pulse is usually small 

 and feeble. On pressing the abdomen at the flank, we find that the 

 stomach feels hard and firm, although even in this case it contains 

 some gas. 



It will be proper to administer ether or chloride of lime, to con- 

 dense the gases, as before advised : then, if no relief can be obtained 



