262 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



edges are inverted. The muscular wound may be retained 

 also by catgut, or, preferably, metallic sutures, the ends of 

 which protrude through the external wound, which is then 

 similarly closed. Where feasible the operation should be 

 performed under the carbolic spray. The wound generally 

 heals readily, the rumen becomes attached to the abdominal 

 walls in most cases, therefore it is advisable, after the 

 operation, to fatten the patient for the butcher as soon as 

 possible. Sometimes it is found necessary to reopen the 

 wound, as in a good case recorded by that able and re- 

 spected cattle pathologist, Mr. John Steele, of Biggar, in 

 the ' Veterinarian,' 1834, p. 98. After-treatment consists 

 in administration of stimulant aromatics and feeding the 

 animal on soft diet until the rumen has thoroughly re- 

 gained its tone. When alvitis has set in the chances of 

 recovery are materially reduced, and after the operation of 

 ruminotomy, which must be resorted to, even though the 

 conditions present render it an affair of desperation, 

 external stimulation and administration of febrifuges in- 

 ternally must be persevered in, while the cathartic dose 

 is assisted by enemas, and the general measures of nursing 

 are to be carefully attended to. Fortunately, alvitis is 

 rare. It is interesting to note that peritonitis of a 

 diffused character seems never to result from this opera- 

 tion, unless the matter from the rumen has been allowed 

 to escape into the peritoneal sac. It is wonderful to see 

 the extent to which the peritoneal membrane of ruminants 

 may be operated on with impunity. 



Rupture op the Rumen sometimes takes place as a 

 result of primary hoven or gaseous accumulation in cases 

 of plenalvia. Sometimes wounds penetrate the walls of 

 this organ, and it is possible for rupture to occur as a 

 result of injury from the animal falling in an advanced 

 case of plenalvia. Puncture of its walls may be due to 

 ulceration resulting from the presence of irritant foreign 

 bodies, which act either chemically or mechanically. In these 

 cases escape of partially elaborated food takes place, either 

 into the main peritoneal sac or into omentum major. The 

 result is peritonitis, but before this sets in the animal 



