QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 193 



Paresis of the rumen may cause or follow tympanites. Poisons, 

 spoiled foods and foreign bodies are also causative factors. 



Symptoms : Abnormal distention of the left side of the abdomen. 

 Drum-like sound on percussion, crepitation heard due to gas bubbles. 

 Suspension of rumination, belching, rapid breathing, frothy foam 

 from mouth, protrusion of anus and sometimes bloody fseees. Death 

 in 15 to 30 minutes. 



Treatment: Puncture the rumen with trocar. Pass stomach 

 tube and siphon off the contents of the rumen. Administer through 

 the tube, aromatic spirits of ammonia, oil of turpentine or pepper- 

 mint. Follow with a large dose of Epsom salts when the tympany 

 subsides. Any treatment must be prompt and energetic. 



Describe the symptoms of jaundice. Name causes. 



Icterus or jaundice is characterized by a yellow discoloration of 

 the visible mucous membranes and skin, and the presence of bile pig- 

 ment in the urine ; faeces are pale and dry and the patient shows dul- 

 ness and loss of appetite. 



Causes are numerous, viz., catarrh of duodenum and bile duct, 

 gall-stones, compression of bile duct by tumors and overloaded 

 stomach; acute and chronic hepatitis, rupture of gall-bladder (no 

 gall-bladder in the horse), poisons, parasites, icterus neonatorum, 

 severe infectious diseases, etc. 



State the relative gravity of jaundice in the horse and in the dog. 



Generally ends in recovery in the horse. In the dog, it is more 

 serious and usually ends in death. 



Give the causes and symptoms of acute gastric indigestion. 



Overloading, spoiled foods, fermentiscible foods, ice-water, espe- 

 cially after feeding, previous disease, overwork, defective teeth and 

 parasites. 



Symptoms: Violent colic, bloating of abdomen and under the 

 ribs on the left side ; suppression of peristalsis and passage of faces ; 

 attempts to eructate and vomit ; hurried breathing. 



In acute tympanitic gastric indigestion, what is the usual reaction 

 of the contents of the viscus? What measures, mechanical, 

 chemical and medicinal, w^ould be especially indicated? 

 Reaction acid. 



Treatment: Pass stomach tube; lavage; puncture the stomach 

 with a trocar passed through the twelfth or thirteenth intercostal 

 space on the left side ; give 6 or 8 ounces of sodium hyposulphite 

 in solution. Aromatic spirits of ammonia, turpentine, carbolic acid 



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