816 CATTLE. 



beyond the place of obstruction, and, by its action on them, pos- 

 sibly recall this viscus also to the discharge of its healthy function. 

 The Epsom salts, with half the usual quantity of ginger, will form 

 the best purgative ; and it should be administered either by means 

 of a small horn, or the pipe of the stomach-pump introduced half 

 way down the gullet, and the liquid very slowly pumped in. By 

 this cautious method of proceeding, the pillars of the oesophagean 

 canal will probably not be forced open, and the liquid will flow on 

 through the passage still partially open at the bottom of the many- 

 plus, and thence into the abomasum. Of the sympathetic influence 

 which the establishment of increased action of the intestines has on 

 the stomachs above in rousing them to their wonted function, mention 

 has already been made ; it is a fact of much importance, and should 

 never be forgotten by the practitioner. 



A consideration of the nature of the disease will necessarily lead 

 to the next step. Either a great quantity of food is retained between 

 the leaves of the manyplus in a natural and softened state, or it is 

 powerfully compressed there, and has become dry and hard. Now 

 the longer leaves of this stomach reach from the roof almost or quite 

 to the base of it, and some of them float in the continuation of the 

 oesophagean canal through which all fluids pass in their way to the 

 fourth stomach. Then plenty of fluid should be made to flow 

 through this canal ; and this may readily be eff'ected by the small 

 horn, or much better by the stomach-pump. An almost constant 

 current of w^arm water may thus be kept up through the canal, by 

 means of which the food retained towards the lower edge of the 

 leaves, and most obstinately retained there on account of the hook- 

 like form of the papillae, will be gradually softened and washed out. 

 This wnll leave room for the descent of more ; and the natural action 

 of this portion of the leaves being possibly re-established, when 

 freed from the weight and oppression of that by which they had 

 been filled, the mass that remains above will begin to be loosened ; 

 it Avill gradually descend and be softened by the stream, and it too 

 will be carried ofi": and so, in process of time, a great part of the 

 stomach will be emptied, and the manifolds will be so far relieved as 

 to be able to renew its natural function. 



Oil has been recommended for this purpose ; but the hardened food 

 will be more readily softened by warm water, than by any oil that 

 can be administered. Some portion of aperient salt should be dis- 

 solved in the water, in order that purgation may be established as 

 soon as possible, or kept moderately up when it is established ; but 

 no heating, stimulating, tonic medicine, beyond the prescribed pro- 

 portion of aromatic to the purgative, should on any account be given, 

 for it is impossible to tell what inflammatory action may be going 

 forward in the manyplus, or to what degree the spasmodic contrac- 

 tion on its contents may be increased. No food should be allowed 



