CHAP. i. IMPACTION OF THE RUMEN. 549 



in the stomach for an hour or more if necessary. With regard to 

 medicine it is desirable to give a saline aperient, such as a pound of 

 Epsom salts, to which may be added two or three ounces' of the 

 aromatic spirits of ammonia and an ounce of powdered ginger. This 

 should be followed in two hours by a draught consisting of three 

 ounces of aromatic spirits of ammonia in three pints of water. When 

 the gas has been removed a table-spoonful of chloride of lime may be 

 given in two pints of water in order to prevent further decomposition. 

 No food should be allowed for the first 12 hours after relief has been 

 afforded, but linseed gruel may be given plentifully. 



TMPACTION OF THE KUMEN, OB " MAW BOUND." The disease just 

 treated of had reference to the distension of the paunch with gas. In 

 the disease commonly termed "maw bound" or "grain sick," now to 

 be considered, the first compartment of the stomach is filled to reple- 

 tion with solid food. The result of this surcharge of the organ is to 

 occasion paralysis of its walls and an inability to expel its contents. 



Symptoms. Impaction of the rumen is made known by an enlarge- 

 ment of the abdomen, but in this case the drum-like sound and elasticity 

 of the belly which we referred to in speaking of " hoven " are absent. 

 Pressure applied to the swollen flank causes instead a pitting as if made 

 on a piece of dough. The affected animal is dull, and wears a heavy 

 expression of the face. The pulse is full and quick ; the breathing is 

 increased in frequency owing to forward pressure on the lungs ; with 

 the continuance of the disorder symptoms of pain appear, and the 

 animal becomes restless, grunts, and grinds its teeth, or the brain 

 sympathising with the engorged stomach suffers functional derange- 

 ment. This is marked by extreme dulness, a tendency to sleep, or, 

 it may be, by great excitement and frenzy, when the animal displays 

 symptoms characteristic of madness. 



Treatment. The bowels, which in cases of this nature are con- 

 stipated, require to be freely opened by the administration of a bold 

 aperient. Sixteen to twenty ounces of sulphate of magnesia (Epsom 

 salts), with four drachms of aloes and two ounces of tincture of gentian, 

 in two quarts of warm linseed gruel, should be given at once, and if in 

 12 hours there is no response half the quantities may be administered 

 in the same measure of gruel. If, in addition to the distended 

 stomach, the animal becomes " blown," a table -spoonful of chloride of 

 lime given in a quart of cold water will prove serviceable by checking 

 fermentation of the imprisoned food. A little walking exercise is 

 desirable where the patient is able to take it, and friction to the belly 

 by means of a rough brush, or the application of turpentine and oil, 

 will prove of service in guarding against gastric inflammation. 



IMPACTION OF THE OMASUM, "FARDEL BOUND," OR "CLUE BOUND." 

 The third compartment of the stomach of the ox is termed the omasum 

 or maniplies, and, like the first division or rumen, it is liable to become 

 over-distended with food. Sometimes this overfulness, if not removed, 

 leads on to inflammation, when it is termed " omasitis," and in other 



