DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 143 



dangerous, as is food which lerments with the formation of a 

 fine frothy mass (potatoes, especially diseased or frosted ones), 

 food containing a narcotic or paralyzing principle (green Indian 

 com, partially ripened wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, tares, 

 and grasses), bulky, dry, fibrous, innutritious aliments (aftermath 

 mixed with old withered stems of a former growth, hay that has 

 ripened before being cut, dried sedges and rushes, stalks of 

 ripened beans, peas, etc.), and finally, musty, rusty, or otherwise 

 injured hay. Salivary fistula or obstruction and worn or 

 diseased teeth may contribute to it. 



Symptoms. — Develop more slowly than in tympany. There 

 is dulness, sluggishness, raised back, hurried breathing, and 

 frequent moaning. The abdomen swells, especially the left 

 side, but it hangs downward, has no absolute drum-like 

 resonance on tapping, and pressure leaves a temporary indent- 

 ation. As the disease advances there is the same difficult 

 breathing as in tympany, frequent passage ol dung and urine, 

 stupor, and finally, suffocation or death from nervous shock. 

 If due to green food, diarrhoea usually precedes death, and a 

 spontaneous cure may be effected by this or by vomiting, but 

 only in rare cases. 



Treatffient. — In the first stages give stimulants and anti- 

 ferments, as for tympany, with active but not irritating pur- 

 gatives to unload the stomach. A pound eacli of Epsom and 

 Glauber salts, 2 oz. oil of turpentine, and ^ drachm of nux 

 vomica will be a suitable dose for an ox, to be followed uj) 

 by stimulants, and in seven hours, if no relief, by a second 

 dose of the same strength. If drum-like resonance at the upper 

 part of the left side shows the pressure of free gas, draw it off 

 by puncturing, and dash cold water over the body to encourage 

 contraction of the paunch. Give active stimulants every two 

 or three hours. 



If there is no sign of imi)rovement, but rather stupor and 

 sinking, the only hope is in opening the stomach in the left 



