DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 145 



this costiveness is preceded by more or less diarrhoea. The 

 beast leaves its fellows, reclines on its left side, with the head 

 in the right flank, and tends by-and-by to show palsy of the 

 hind limbs, drowsiness and stupor, or delirium and convulsions. 



In the more acute cases, death may ensue in six hours. The 

 animal is found apart, lying with his head in his right flank, 

 with red fixed eyes, eyelids half closed, and much drowsiness 

 and stupor, though he may still feed when raised, pulse and 

 breathing accelerated, bowels loose or torpid, hardness and 

 tenderness under the right short ribs, and muscular tremors. 

 Later, the eyes glare, the patient seeks relief in motion in a 

 straight line or to one side regardless of obstacles, and pushing 

 against obstructing walls or fences till teeth or horns are 

 broken, bellowing loudly and in a terrific manner all the time. 



Treatment. — For the simpler forms give strong purgatives 

 (sulphate of soda, ox i lb., sheep 6 oz , with common salt 

 molasses and croton), stimulants (ginger, carbonate of am- 

 monia), and abundance of water or watery fluid. The stimu- 

 lants may be repeated at intevals of three hours, and accom- 

 panied by injections of warm water. If no relief is obtained in 

 twelve hours, repeat the purgative, and if any tenderness of the 

 right side exists, blister it with mustard and turpentine (for 

 sheep use ammonia and oil). If the kidneys act profusely, 

 change the purgative, giving castor or linseed oil. Even after 

 free action of the bowels it is usually necessary to feed green 

 food, roots or soft mashes, to give all the water that will be 

 taken, and even to add slight laxatives to insure the perfect 

 breakmg up of all the impaction. 



In the acute forms of the disease with irritation of the 

 stomach the blandest purgatives only (linseed; olive, or castor- 

 oil), must be used with nux vomica, injections and a bHster on 

 the right side over the short ribs, and cold water or ice bags 

 to the head. Should the victim become delirious, fasten to a 

 strong post round which they can move, or to a ring fixed in 



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