234 THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



ration can only be attempted by a good anatomist. Some- 

 times it is even necessary to puncture the distended rumen 

 in the left flank, for the purpose of letting out the gas, which 

 threatens suffocation. 



HOOVE, OB DISTENTION OF THE STOMACH FKOM GAS. 



When cattle, and especially such as have been kept on 

 scanty fare, are turned into rich pastures, or stray by accident 

 into fields of clover, lucern, or the like, they are apt to eat 

 ravenously, and take in a larger quantity of food than the 

 powers of digestion are capable of managing. The rumen 

 is overloaded ; its contents, from the effects of warmth and 

 moisture, begin to ferment, and large volumes of gas are 

 rapidly evolved ; the rumen soon becomes awfully distended, 

 even to bursting, for the pillars of the oesophagean canal are 

 closed tightly, and prevent the escape of the gas through the 

 oesophagus; and the more the rumen is distended, the more 

 firmly is this canal closed. The rumen now presses on the 

 diaphragm ; respiration and the action of the heart are greatly 

 impeded; the whole body of the animal, especially the left 

 side, is blown up till the very skin seems about to give way; 

 the tongue hangs from the mouth dripping with spume ; the 

 eyes are bloodshot and glazy; deep moans attest the torture 

 of the poor beast ; it crouches with its back bent up ; insensi- 

 bility comes on ; it staggers, it falls, it struggles convulsively, 

 and dies. We have known cows, well at night, found dead in 

 the morning from hoove, having strayed into an enclosure of 

 lucern or clover. 



The first object in these cases is to procure the liberation 

 of the gas (at first carburetted hydrogen, but as the disease 

 continues, sulphuretted hydrogen), and this must be done 

 promptly. The cesophagus-tube, with its perforated bulb and 

 stylet, must be introduced through the oesophagus into the 

 rumen, and the stylet withdrawn ; a quantity of gas then 

 escapes, the flanks sink, the breathing is more easy, and the 

 animal is relieved. But this tube cannot be kept in the gullet 

 for any great length of time ; it must be withdrawn, and in 

 the mean time gas again accumulates. The tube may again 

 be introduced ; and afterwards measures must be taken to 

 relieve the stomach effectually. The stomach-pump must be 

 resorted to, and through its tube a quantity of warm water 

 thrown into the rumen, and pumped out again, until the acid 

 fermenting fluid is washed away, and perhaps a considerable 



