THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 249 



also of the abomasum and small intestines ; while the many- 

 plus is filled with hardened vegetable matter The cuticular 

 coat peels readily from off the muscular coat of the rumen and 

 reticulum or honeycomb the sign of commencing disorgan- 

 ization ; and the abomasum is not unfrequently ulcerated. 



If it be ascertained that an animal has fed on noxious 

 plants, instant recourse must be had to the stomach-pump ; 

 the stomach must be deluged with water until the rumen 

 overflows, and the contents are rejected by vomiting. Nor 

 will one operation of the land be sufficient, it must be re- 

 peated ; and afterwards smart aperients, consisting of salts, 

 oil, and gruel, must be slowly poured or injected down the 

 oesophagus, and repeated every six or eight hours until the 

 bowels are well purged. 



Supposing that there be a mere suspicion that poison of 

 this kind (known to be accessible) has been taken, but that in 

 reality the symptoms arise from some distention of the rumen 

 only, attended by severe colic, still no harm will be done. 

 The rumen will be relieved, and the bowels emptied of irritat- 

 ing matter; and a cordial, with a little opium, will complete 

 the cure. 



With respect to mineral poisons, it is not often that they 

 are accidentally swallowed by cattle. Arsenic may indeed be 

 given wilfully, and perhaps a piece of bread-and-butter, 

 sprinkled with arsenic for the destruction oi rats, may be left 

 carelessly in the way of cows, and devoured ; but these are 

 rare cases. No one can tell the cause of the horrible suffer- 

 ing endured by the poor animals ; they die, arid perhaps after 

 death the presence of poison is detected in the stomach. Let 

 us, however, suppose it to be known that arsenic has been 

 swallowed what is to be done ? A quantity of lime-water or 

 of chalk and water must be injected into the stomach, and, 

 after remaining a few minutes, pumped out, a fresh quantity 

 being injected. This may be repeated two or three times, 

 and at last a fresh quantity injected and left, in order to neu- 

 tralize the arsenic, if any remain in the stomach. Aperients 

 of salts and oil must then be given, and their operation 

 assisted by clysters of oil, salt, and gruel. 



Corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury, or oxymuriate 

 of mercury), though never given internally to cattle, is often 

 rashly used by ignorant persons as an external application to 

 ulcers, mangy spots, and other cutaneous affections. It is a 

 most dangerous remedy ; for it will pass into the system by 



