40 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



TYMPANITES 



By the term tympanites in cattle is understood, as 

 a general rule, the distention of the rumen with gas 

 as an acute condition or clinical entity. 



Tympanites frequently becomes fully established 

 within a few minutes to an hour after the ingestion 

 of certain feeds, such as clover or alfalfa. When it 

 results from the ingestion of dry feed it develops 

 more slowly and usually does not assume such serious 

 proportions. 



Tympanites resulting from the ingestion of green 

 food may progress so rapidly as to cause death from 

 suffocation within ten to twenty minutes. 



The symptoms of tympanites are always the same 

 and leave no room for doubt in diagnosis. 



When the veterinarian arrives he usually finds the 

 cow gasping for breath, the mouth wide open, and 

 the tongue protruding. The left flank is immensely 

 distended and the cow constantly shifts her weight 

 from one hind leg to the other. Some cases are ac- 

 companied by vomition. Apparently the sensation 

 endured by the cow is more one of distress than of 

 acute pain. Only occasionally does a cow show signs 

 of acute pain with tympanites. 



The treatment of tympanites is both surgical and 

 medicinal. 



The surgical end of the treatment consists of tap- 

 ping the rumen with a large trocar and canula, 

 thereby permitting the escape of the gas. The rule 

 in our practice calling for tapping is the opening of 

 the mouth. 



Although the cow may be immensely bloated, we 

 do not resort to the trocar unless the cow is so dis- 



