464 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



at intervals ; the fseces consisting of a profuse slimy 

 discharge, with portions of hard dung in the form of 

 balls, of different dimensions. Sometimes the com- 

 plaint is accompanied by considerable swelling of the 

 body, terminating in inflammation which is manifested 

 by a short heaving of the flanks with hard breathing, 

 and a considerable degree of fever. The animal 

 loathes his food, and soon becomes weak and 

 emaciated. 



Causes. — This disease is generally due to the 

 animal being fed on too large quantities of grains or 

 meals, such as bean-meal, pea-meal, undecorticated 

 cotton cake, and more especially if these are coarsely 

 ground and not steamed or boiled. 



Sometimes constipation in oxen is due to the cut 

 spermatic cord twisting round a portion of bowel and 

 thus mechanically preventing the contents of the in- 

 carcerated bowel passing downwards and being voided. 

 Fardel-bound is generally a constipation of the third 

 stomach. 



Remedies. — Give the animal a pint of castor oil 

 in half-a-gallon of warm oatmeal-gruel, with four 

 ounces of Epsom salts and one ounce of carbonate of 

 ammonia. If in twelve hours this purgative does not 

 restore the bowels to their proper condition, repeat 

 the dose and allow the animal to drink as much cold 

 water as it desires. 



Veterinary surgeons frequently treat that form of 

 constipation known as "Gut-tie" by operation. The 

 animal is first thrown on the ground, and an incision 

 made in the right flank sufficient to admit the hand ; 

 when the operator will insert his hand to feel for the 

 ligament by which the intestine is bound, and having 

 discovered it, he separates the ligament with the nail 

 of his thumb, which enables the intestine to assume 



