310 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



PUNCTURING THE RUMEN. 



This is an operation that when indicated has to be performed at once 

 or the animal may be lost. It is indicated in severe cases of acute 

 tympanites in cattle, commonly known as hoven, which is due to the 

 generation of gas resulting from fermentation. To relieve this disten- 

 sion an ordinary cattle trocar and canula (Plate in, Figs. 5 a and 5 &) are 

 inserted into the rumen, the most distended portion of the left side of 

 the animal being the part selected. The trocar is withdrawn and the 

 canula left in until the gas has fully escaped. 



Puncturing is not a serious operation in cattle, and in cases of great 

 distension should be performed without hesitancy or delay. Relief is 

 almost instantaneous in many cases. Of course the proper remedial 

 agents should be administered to arrest further fermentation. (See 

 Tympanites, p. 29.) 



RUMENOTOMY. 



* The opening of the paunch or rumen in cattle and the removal of a 

 part or the whole of the ingesta through said opening is termed miner - 

 otomy. The operation should only be performed in severe cases where 

 the rumen is excessively overloaded and distended. The animal is 

 placed with its right side against a wall and firmly held in position by 

 strong assistants. The incision is made in the same place that the 

 trocar is inserted for puncturing that organ in cases of hoveu. The 

 opening is increased in size until the operator's hand can be inserted 

 into the rumen. Before any of the contents are removed from that 

 organ a linen cloth should be placed from the outer wound into the 

 rumen in order to prevent any of the ingesta from getting into the 

 abdominal cavity. After removing a portion of the contents of the 

 rumen some practitioners introduce such medicine as may be indicated 

 before closing the wound. Clean the wound and close the opening in 

 the rumen with uninterrupted (Plate xxviiij Fig. 8) carbolized catgut 

 sutures. Next close the external wound, consisting of the integument, 

 muscle, and peritoneum, with stout interrupted (Plate XXYIII, Fig. 6) 

 metallic sutures. No food should be given for several hours after the 

 operation, and then only gruels. (See Distension of Rumen with Food, 

 p. 31.) 



TREATMENT OF ABSCESSES. 



Abscesses are of frequent occurrence and demand prompt treatment. 

 An abscess may be detected, if situated externally, by heat, pain, red- 

 ness, and swellin g in the early stages, and if further developed by the 

 fluctuation which will be present. When any of these symptoms are 

 absent, the suppuration should be encouraged by the means of hot 

 fomentations and poultices. Care must be taken that the abscess is 

 not opened too soon, or it may to some extent cause it to scatter and 

 the escape of pus will be lessened. The time to open an abscess is just 



