DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 43 



late the diet. Give good, nutritious food in small 

 quantities and often. It may be necessary to give 

 a dose of Epsom salts one to one and one-half 

 pounds and one ounce ground ginger dissolved in 

 one-half gallon of cold water. This to be followed 

 by sulphate of iron four ounces, nux vomica two 

 ounces, divided into twenty-four doses, one to be 

 given morning and night in bran mash. Boiled 

 flaxseed is also good. 



IMPACTION OP THE RUMEN. 



Causes. — Some kinds of food are more liable to 

 produce this disorder than others, grain of any 

 kind in too large quantities, chaff, potatoes, and 

 coarse grass. When the quantity is too great it 

 causes distention of the rumen so that its walls 

 become paralyzed. Symptoms. — The animal ap- 

 pears dull and suffers more or less pain. The left 

 side is swollen, and when pressed by the hand has 

 a doughy feel and pits on pressure, and when the 

 animal lies down it does so on its right side. The 

 breathing is increased and the pulse is small and 

 may number sixty to eighty per minute. The ani- 

 mal grinds its teeth, the nose is dry and the back 

 is arched. Fermentation may set in, causing 

 greater distention, which aggravates the above 

 symptoms. Inflammation may set in and, in ad- 

 dition to the above, the animal will manifest pain 

 when the left side is pressed. Treatment. — Re- 

 move some of the impacted food, or if gas is formed 

 remove it. The probang must be pressed down to 



