DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 27 



Treatment. — Treatment should be preceded by a moderate dose of 

 purgative medicine: 1 pound of sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salt) 

 or sulphate of soda (Glauber's salt), half an ounce of powdered 

 Barbados aloes, 1 ounce of powdered ginger, 1 pint of molasses. 

 The salts and aloes should be dissolved by stirring for a few minutes 

 in 2 quarts of lukewarm water, then the molasses should be added, 

 and aft^r all the ingredients have been stirred together for about 

 10 minutes the dose should be administered. It will generally be 

 necessary after the operation of the purgative to give some tonic 

 and antacid preparation to promote digestion, which is imperfectly 

 I)erformed in such cases. The following may be used: Powdered 

 gentian, 3 ounces; powdered bicarbonate of potash, 3 ounces; pow- 

 dered ginger, 3 ounces; powdered capsicum, 1 ounce. Mix and 

 divide into 12 powders, one of which should be given three times a 

 day before feeding, shaken up with half a pint of whisky and a pint 

 of water. It is also advantageous in such cases to give two heaped 

 teaspoonfuls of wood charcoal, mixed with the animal's feed three 

 times a day. The animal should also go out during the day, as want 

 of exercise favors the continuance of this form of indigestion. If 

 the dung is hard, the constipation should be overcome by feeding a 

 little flaxseed twice daily or by giving a handful of Glauber's salt 

 in the feed once or twice daily, as may be necessary. Roots, silage, 

 and other succulent feeds are useful in this connection. If tuber- 

 culosis is suspected as the cause of the chronic bloating, a skilled 

 veterinarian should be employed to make a diagnosis, using the 

 tuberculin test if necessary. Until it is settled that the cow has 

 not tuberculosis, she should be kept apart from the other members 

 of the herd. 



DISTENTION OF RUMEN, OR PAUNCH, WITH FOOD. 



This form of indigestion is caused by the animal gorging itself 

 with food, and arises more from the animal's voracious appetite than 

 from any defect in the quality of the food supplied to it. The con- 

 dition is, however, more severe if the food consumed is especially 

 concentrated or difficult of digestion. In cases of this kind there is 

 comparatively no great formation of gas, and the gas which is formed 

 is diffused through the stomach instead of accumulating in a layer 

 in its upper part. On pressing the flank with the closed fist the 

 indent of the hand remains for a short time in the flank, as if the 

 rumen were filled with a soft^ doughy mass. 



This form of indigestion should be treated by stimulants, such as 

 alcohol, wine, or aromatic spirits of ammonia. 



If the formation of gas is not great and the distention with solid 

 material is somewhat limited, the animal may be drenched through 

 a piece of ordinary garden hose, one end inserted in the mouth, like 



