Tympanitic Indigestion in the Rumen. Bloating. 103 



ing of the left flank will sometimes lead to free belching of gas. 

 The same may be at times secured by winding a rope several 

 times spirally round the belly and then twisting it tighter by the 

 aid of a stick in one of its median turns. 



A very simple and efficient resort is to place in the mouth a 

 block of wood 2j^ to 3 inches in diameter and secured by a 

 rope carried from each end and tied behind the horns or ears. 

 This expedient, which is so effective in preventing or relieving 

 dangerous tympany in choking, appears to act by inducing move- 

 ments of mastication, and sympathetic motions of the oesophagus, 

 demicanal and rumen. It not only determines free discharge of 

 gas by the mouth, but it absolutely prevents any accession of 

 saliva or air to the stomach by rendering deglutition difficult or 

 impossible. A similar effect can be obtained from forcible drag- 

 ging on the tongue but it is difficult to keep this up so as to 

 have the requisite lasting effect. Still another resort is to rouse 

 eructation by the motions of a rope introduced into the fauces. 



The passing of a hollow probang into the rumen is very 

 effective as it not .only secures a channel for the immediate 

 escape of the gas, but it also stimulates the demi-canal and ru- 

 men to a continuous eructation and consequent relief. Fried- 

 berger and Frohner advise driving the animals into a bath of 

 cold water. 



Of medicinal agents applicable to gastric tympany the best are 

 stimulants, antiseptics and chemical antidotes. Among stimu- 

 lants the alkaline preparations of ammonia hold a very high place. 

 These, however, act not as stimulants alone, but also as antacids 

 and indirectly as antidotes since the alkaline reaction checks the 

 acid fermentation which determines the evolution of the gas. 

 They also unite with and condense the carbon dioxide. Three 

 ounces of the aromatic spirits of ammonia, one ounce of the 

 crystalline sesquicarbonate, or half an ounce of the strong aqua 

 ammonia may be given to an ox, in not less than a quart of cold 

 water. Next to this is the oil of turpentine 2 oz. , to be given in 

 oil, milk, or yolk of egg. But this too is an antiferment. The 

 same remark applies to oil of peppermint (*4 oz.^), the carmina- 

 tive seeds and their oils, and the stronger alcoholic drinks 

 (1 quart). Sulphuric or nitrous ether (2 oz.) may be given in 

 place. Pepper and ginger are more purely stimulant and less an- 



