800 CATTLE. 



central body ; at otlir^ limes it exists in the form of a Lit of straw 

 or wood, or frequently of stone or iron. They exist in the rumen, 

 and in the abomasum. In the abomasum they are composed exclu- 

 sively of hair, irregularly matted and held together by the mucus of 

 the stomach ; in the rumen there is generally a mixture of food, or 

 earthy matter, in the composition of the concretion. When simple 

 food mingles with the hair, the ball seems to be formed by a succes- 

 sion of concentric layers, and is the centre is a bit of nail or stone ; 

 or, if the beasts have access to running water, a piece of shell often 

 constitutes the nucleus. 



The hair is obtained by the habit which cattle, and even very 

 young calves, have, of licking eacl other. A considerable quantity 

 of hair is loosened and removed by the rough tongues of these animals, 

 the greater part of which is swallowed ; and there seems to be a kind 

 of power in the stomach to separate these indigestible matters from 

 the other substances which it contains. It is also easy to imagine 

 that the hairs which the manyplus, with all its grinding power, can- 

 not rub down, will collect tooether when floating in the semi-fluid 

 contents of the fourth stomach, and gradually accumulate in con- 

 siderable and hard masses. These balls will begin to form at a very 

 early age of the animal. 



When only a little hair enters into the formation of these calculi, 

 they are usually made up of earthy matter, with bits of hay, straw, 

 or other food, glued together by the mucus of the stomach. These 

 have uniformly a hard central nucleus, generally metallic. The 

 concentric layers can here also be traced, but they are, occasionally, 

 somewhat confused. 



In some cases, various compounds of lime, and still more of silicious 

 matter, can be detected by chemical analysis. These concretions are 

 round ; they are seldom found except in the rumen, and never in the 

 intestines ; and there is always a central nucleus of stone or metal ; 

 the concentric layers are regulaily and beautifully marked ; and the 

 concretion, when sawed asunder, will bear a high degree of polish. 



Of the effect of these substances on the health of the animal it is 

 difficult to speak. One thing, however, is certain, that they are oftener 

 found and in greater numbers in those that are ailing and out of con- 

 dition, than in stronger and thriving beasts ; but whether some fault 

 in the digestive organs, indicated by this poorness of condition, gives 

 a tendency to the formation of concretions in the paunch, or the 

 presence of these concretions impairs the digestive powers and pro- 

 duces general unthriftiness, are questions which it is difficult to 

 answer. Each opinion may in its turn be true, but it is probable that 

 the latter state of things oftenest occurs. These calculi are, with few 

 exceptions, confined to the stomach, where they may produce a sense 

 of oppression and impairment of appetite, but cannot be the cause of 

 colic, obstruction, inflammation, and strangulation of the intestines. 



