CATTLE. 



the beast having been gored b}^ one of its companions. The external 

 wound may probably be small, or, in some cases, the skin may not be 

 broken at all, but the internal wall of the belly is injured, and par- 

 tially or entirely ruptured. In consequence of this, a tumor soon 

 appears, varying in size according to the extent of the injury. It is 

 a portion of the intestine that is protruding. The enlargement is 

 tender when pressed upon, but it does not seem to interfere with the 

 health of the animal, and a fortnight or three weeks elapse before any 

 serious consequence is observed ; at length the tumor begins to 

 increase very rapidly ; the animal expresses considerable pain on 

 beinor moved, and is only comparatively easy when lying down, and 

 even then it moans occasionally ; the breathing is quickened ; the 

 countenance is anxious ; the pulse is quick and small ; rumination has 

 stopped, and the usual evacuation of faeces is diminished. It is 

 plainly a protrusion of the bov>^els, and now attended with some 

 degree of strangulation, or pressure of the edges of the wound upon 

 them, and thus obstructing the passage of their contents. The tumor 

 is generally soft and yielding, and, on pressure, a gurgling noise is 

 heard within it. On inspection of the cut, p. 330, and observation 

 of the loose manner in which the small intestines are attached to the 

 edge of the mesentery, it will be easy to account for the occasional 

 enormous size of the tumor, and the quantity of intestine which is 

 protruded. 



It is rarely possible, by any manipulation (taxis), to return the 

 bowel ; and if it could be returned, it would immediately escape 

 again. It is therefore loss of time to endeavor thus to treat the case. 

 It would be worse than loss of iime, for considerable inflammation 

 may be set up by a long-continued and rough handling of the part. 



The beast must be thrown and held on his back, with the hind 

 parts somewhat elevated. An incision must be made through the 

 skin, corresponding with the length of the tumor, especial care being 

 taken that the protruded intestine, which will be found immediately 

 underneath, be not wounded. Then, if there be any strangulation of 

 the intestine, which in most cases there will be, the first and second 

 fingers of the left hand must be introluced between the bowel and 

 the edge of the wound ; a crooked knife (a bistoury) must next be 

 passed cautiously between the fingers, and the wound enlarged suffi- 

 ciently to enable the protruded mass to be returned. The bowel 

 having been thus replaced in its natural cavity, the edges of the 

 wound through the walls of the belly must be brought together and 

 retained with stitches ; the skin, if necessary, being dissected back a 

 little, in order to get at the whole of the wound. Stitches must then 

 be passed through the skin, the divided edges of which should be 

 brought together in the same manner. In a few cases it will be 

 practicable, and always advisable when practicable, to include the 

 skin and the muscular wall of the belly in the same stitch. A pk»d- 



