T H E H O O V E . 95 



to swell, and that to an enormous extent ; the breathingr is very labo- 

 rious, and the animal is evidently in great distress, and threatened 

 with immediate suffocation, from the pressure of the distended sto- 

 mach against the diaphragm diminishing the cavity of the chest, ana 

 rendering it impossible for the lungs to expand. The difficulty of 

 oreathing increases with the distension of the stomach and the pres- 

 sure on the lungs, and the animal is inevitably lost if relief is not 

 soon obtained. 



This relief consists, and can alone consist, in relieving the stomach 

 from the distension. But how is this to be accomplished] Medi- 

 cine seems to be almost or quite thrown away. If a drink is given, 

 not a drop of it will find its way into the paunch, the entrance to 

 which is so firmly closed that it seems scarcely possible that even a 

 ball should now break through the floor. A very stimulating drink, 

 passing into the fourth stomach, and exciting it, may, by sympathy, 

 induce the paunch to act: yet it is difficult to conceive how that 

 viscus can possibly act while its fibres are put thus violently upon 

 the stretch. 



Something might have been done by way of prevention. If, when 

 the cattle had been turned into the fresh pasture, they had been care- 

 full}'- watched, and removed again to the straw-yard, before the 

 paunch had been too much gorged, and this had been repeated two 

 or three times, the appetite would have been blunted and hoove pre- 

 vented. 



Some farmers, an hour or two before they have turned such cows 

 as are of a greedy disposition into a fresh pasture, give them a cor- 

 dial drink. The stomach is stimulated by this, and induced to con- 

 tract in time upon its contents ; and this contraction has reminded the 

 animal of the necessary process of rumination, or has rendered it 

 almost impossible for him to continue to feed until some portion of 

 the contents of the stomach has been returned and remasticated. 



If the farmer will adopt such a plan, the following drink is as good 

 as any that can be given : — 



RECIPE (No. 46). 



Cordial Drfnfc.— Take, caraway and anipeeds, in powder, of each an ounce; ginger 

 half an ounce: mix with a pint of good ale, made hut. 



I must confess, however, that, although I would not absolutely 

 condemn such a practice, I would nnich rather trust to simpler and 

 more effectual precautions. I would take care that the change of 

 food should not be too sudden nor too gfreat. If there was an evident 

 difference in the nutritive quality of the two pastures, I would be 

 carefully on the watch, and remove the beast to shorter grass, before 

 material mischief could be effected. 



Suppose, however, that the miscliief is done; the stomach is dis- 

 tended, and the animal is evidently threatened with immediate suft'o^ 

 cation. Nothing but mechanical means will now be of avail. 



Some drive the animal about. This is sadly cruel work; for he 

 Beems to be scarcely able to move, and appears as if he would be 



