THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 263 



may die, the symptoms being those of abdominal pain 

 and collapse. 



FoEEiGN Bodies in the Rumen and Reticulum are of 

 various kinds. The most extraordinary are those which 

 the animal has ingested in consequence of depravity of 

 appetite. Sometimes these are large and of peculiar form, 

 since they become variously encrusted. These give rise to 

 indigestion, such as is frequently seen in cattle, irregular 

 rumination, increased depravity of appetite, and an un- 

 thrifty condition; sometimes also vomition is present. They 

 are also said to act deleteriously by becoming entangled 

 in the oesophageal groove and the stomachic openings. 

 Sharp bodies penetrate the walls of the viscus, and their 

 course is indicated by inflammatory changes. This is 

 found to be the case most frequently in the reticulum. 

 Passage of needles, &c., from that stomach into the heart 

 has been already noticed. Yomition, tympany, and sym- 

 ptoms of abdominal pain, as well as intermittent hoven 

 and general signs of anaemia, are present in these cases. 



Parasites and calculi (especially those consisting essen- 

 tially of hair concretions) are sometimes found in the 

 rumen. Of parasites Amphistoma conicum is remarkable 

 as being somewhat similar to the papillae in the deep 

 saccules of the rumen. Certain Taenise have been found 

 in this cavity. Also Gysticercus tenuicolUs is sometimes 

 found attached to its outer surface. 



*' Hair Balls '* are of considerable interest. Cattle 

 when in health delight in licking themselves or one 

 another, and the roughened condition of their tongues 

 causes a considerable removal of hairs which are swal- 

 lowed, and in the rumen are intermingled with food 

 particles and fibres, with which they are bound to- 

 gether by mucus. The movement of the stomach give 

 these a rounded form, and a definite spiral direction to 

 the hairs. When several are present they assume the 

 form of polygons with rounded edges. These concre- 

 tions are light and vary much in size. Some have 

 been observed which weighed between six and seven 

 pounds. Generally they weigh only a few ounces. Their 



