DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 29 



when the handle of a pitchfork has been pushed down a cow's throat to 

 remove an obstruction. Where such treatment has been applied it is 

 best to slaughter the animal without delay, as the flesh may be utilized, 

 and remedial treatment would be hopeless. In this connection it may 

 be mentioned that whatever substitute may be used for a probang, 

 which sometimes is not at hand, it should be flexible and should possess 

 a smooth surface. The handle of a whip fc when it is flexible, may be 

 used in emergencies. 



DISEASES OF THE STOMACH. 

 TYMPANITES, HOVEN, OR BLOATING. 



This disease is characterized by swelling of the left flank, and is 

 caused by the formation of gas in the rumen or paunch. (See Plates I 

 and H.) 



Causes. Tympanites may be caused by any kind of food which pro- 

 duces indigestion. When cattle are first turned into young clover they 

 eat so greedily of it that tympanites frequently results; turnips, pota- 

 toes, and cabbage may also cause it; middlings andcornmeal also fre- 

 quently give rise to it. In this connection it may be stated that an 

 excessive quantity of any of the before-mentioned foods may bring on 

 this disorder, or it may not be due to excess but to eating too hastily. 

 Sometimes the quality of the food is at fault. Grass or clover when 

 wet by dew or rain frequently disorders digestion and brings on tym- 

 panites; frozen roots or pastures covered with hoar-frost should also be 

 regarded as dangerous. When food has been eaten too hastily, or 

 when it is cold and wet, the digestive process is imperfectly performed 

 and the food contained in the paunch ferments, during which process 

 large quantities of gas are formed. The same result may follow when 

 a cow is choked, as the obstruction in the gullet prevents the eructation 

 or passing up of gas from the stomach, so that the gas continues to 

 accumulate until tympanitis results. 



Symptoms. The swelling of the left flank is very characteristic, as in 

 well-marked cases the flank at its upper part rises above the level of 

 , the backbone and when struck with the tips of the lingers emits a 

 drumlike sound. The animal has an anxious expression, moves uneasily, 

 and is evidently distressed. If relief is not obtained in time it breathes 

 with difficulty, reels in walking or in standing, and in a short time falls 

 down and dies from suffocation. The distention of the stomach may 

 become so great as to prevent the animal from breathing, and in some 

 instances the case may be complicated by rupture of the stomach. 



Treatment. In urgent cases the trocar should be used immediately, 

 for when the distension of the stomach has become extreme there is no 

 trying the remedial effect of medicine. The trocar is a sharp-pointed 

 instrument encased in a sheath, which leaves the sharp point of the 

 trocar free. (See Plate in, Figs. 5a and 56.) In selecting the point 



