HAIR BALLS. 183 



the stomach. These consist in purgatives and injections. 

 As a purgative, a pound and a-half of salts may be given in 

 water. Many persons prefer a large dose of common salt to 

 create great thirst, which the animal may be allowed to 

 appease with chilled water to any extent. The administra- 

 tion of fluids in large quantities is very essential in order to 

 soften the solid mass and carry it off Injections of warm 

 water given repeatedly at intervals of a quarter or half an 

 hour materially aid the treatment, and all solid food should 

 be kept from the animal for some time after a passage 

 through the alimentary canal is obtained. There are other 



DISEASES OF THE EETICULUM. 



This organ suffers in cases of hove and impaction as much 

 as the rumen, and its diseases may in part be regarded as 

 in common with those of the paunch, but these are peculiar 

 states incidental to the form, function, and character of the 

 mucous membrane of the honey-comb bag. 



HAIE CONCRETIONS. 



These are very frequently seen in cattle of all ages, from 

 licking each other, and especially in cows, from licking their 

 young. The hair thus swallowed becomes entangled in the 

 folds and spaces of the second stomach, and gradually accu- 

 mulates at its most dependent part, where, from the rolling 

 movement to which all the contents are subject, a spherical 

 mass or concretion is soon formed. The hairs are partly 

 woven together, but the liquids of the cavity tend to agglu- 

 tinate them so as to render them firm and smooth. These 

 hair-balls are occasionally found in large numbers, and at 

 other times single, but attaining a large size. 



Many foreign substances are apt to accumulate in the 



