548 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vi. 



TYMPANY, " HOVEN," OR " BLOWN." The condition commonly 

 termed " hoven " is due to the distention of the rumen or paunch with 

 gas, the result of fermentation going on in the food. It is a common 

 ailment among oxen and, although giving rise to serious symptoms, it 

 is on the whole a most tractable disorder, and seldom ends fatally 

 where timely measures of treatment are adopted. 



The causes of this affection refer for the most part to the condition 

 of the food consumed and the manner' of ingestion. Clovers rapidly 

 grown, when succulent and full of moisture, and especially if taken 

 when the morning dew is on them, prove a fruitful cause of the 

 disease. Rank luxuriant herbage of any kind has a tendency to 

 ferment and give off offending gases. Stale grains and unripe 

 potatoes when taken in excess are often' responsible for attacks of 

 hoven, and particularly when hurriedly consumed after a long fast. 

 Sudden change from dry to green succulent food will account for many 

 cases seen in the spring of the year, when cattle are leaving the yards 

 for the open pasture. It has elsewhere been noticed that " hoven " 

 accompanies choking. In this condition, rumination being suspended, 

 decomposition takes place in the food owing to its long retention in the 

 rumen while under the influence of heat and moisture, and the stomach 

 becomes inflated with gas as the result. 



This affection occasionally assumes a chronic character as the 

 result of organic disease of the stomach, whereby the digestive 

 function is disordered. In young beasts balls of hair lodged in the 

 rumen have been known to produce it by interfering with rumination. 



Symptoms. The symptoms of hoven are very characteristic. The 

 abdomen becomes much enlarged. This is shown more particularly in 

 the left flank, where the walls of the belly are elastic to the feel, and 

 when struck emit a drum-like sound. Gas is frequently discharged 

 by the mouth as sour smelling eructations, and the bowels are irritable 

 and expel their contents in small quantities. The breathing will be 

 embarrassed in proportion to the degree of distention .existing in the 

 stomach, and some pain may be evidenced by grinding the teeth, 

 striking the belly, and grunting. 



Treatment. In a case of this kind there are two objects to be 

 achieved 



1. To remove the gas already existing. 



2. To prevent its further accumulation. 



The first of these is to be effected either by puncturing the rumen 

 with an instrument devised for the purpose, comprising a trocar or 

 spear, and a cannula or tube, or by the administration oi suitable 

 medicines. 



If the first course be adopted, the animal is placed in a stall and the 

 operator standing on the left side forces the instrument into the flank 

 four or five inches from the spine and midway between the last rib and 

 the haunch bone. The paunch lies immediately beneath this part. 

 When the trocar has entered the paunch it is withdrawn, while the 

 cannula or tube is left behind to allow the gas to escape. As fresh gas 

 will continue to be generated, the cannula should be allowed to remain 



