DISTENSION OF THE RUMEN FROM FOOD. 301 



DISTENSION OF THE RCMEN FROM FOOD. 



Cattle, when first put on succulent grass or turnips, or when 

 suffered to gorge themselves with potatoes or grains, or even with 

 chaff, will sometimes distend the rumen almost to bursting. 



The history of the case will generally unfold the nature of it ; and 

 it will be distinguished from hoove by its not being attended by 

 occasional eructation, by the swelling not being so great as in hoove, 

 and by the hardness of the flanks. Should any doubt, however, 

 remain, the probang should be passed into the rumen, when, if that 

 be distended with gas, a sudden and violent rush of the imprisoned 

 air will follow. The probang, however, should always be used, not 

 only to determine this point, but the degree to which the rumen is 

 distended by food. 



When, although the animal may be dull, refusing to eat, and ceas- 

 ing to ruminate, generally lying down and showing great disinclination 

 to move, yet the pulse is not materially quickened, and the muscle is 

 cool and moist, and there is little heaving at the flanks, and no indi- 

 cation of pain, the practitioner may content himself with a free 

 bleeding and a powerful dose of physic. These symptoms, however, 

 are often treacherous, and, without vvarninsf, uneasiness, hea^ins:, 

 stupor, and death may rapidly succeed. 



In mild cases, stimulants may be resorted to with frequent advan- 

 tage. Ammonia, ether, aromatics, and spirits, have succeeded in 

 rousing the stomach to action, and establishing the process of rumi- 

 nation ; and that once established, there is little fear of the result ol 

 the case. These stimulants should, however, be always accompanied 

 by aperient medicines. 



When, however, the symptoms are sudden dullness, uneasiness, 

 shifting of posture, moaning, swelling at the sides, the flank feeling 

 hard and not yielding to pressure ; when rumination ceases, and the 

 uneasiness and moaning increase, and the animal gradually becomes 

 unconscious, this will admit of no delay, and demands mechanical 

 relief; the introduction of the probang will ascertain the degree of 

 distension. 



Should the probang enter a little way into the stomach, and the 

 operator be able to move it about, he will have proof that, although 

 the paunch is sufticiently distended to produce severe annoyance and 

 considerable danger to the animal, it is not stretched to the utmost ; 

 he may first try the effect of mild measures, and he will be especially 

 encouraged to attempt this if he finds that the food is of a rather 

 light nature. 



If the probang cannot be introduced at all into the rumen, or the 

 food eaten is heavy, as grains, or potatoes, or corn, the most judicious 

 plan will be to make an incision without delay through the left flank 

 into the rumen, and thus extract its contents. 



