Impaction of the Omasum {Third Stomach). 127 



of the rumeu may appear and the contents of the organ seem 

 consolidated and may be felt as solid masses when pressure is 

 made by the hand. The mouth is hot, clammy and foetid, and 

 the bowels costive, the faeces being passed in small amount and 

 in the form of hard, black pellets, covered by a film of mucus, 

 or streaks of blood, and containing particles of undigested food. 

 This not unfrequently merges into a transient diarrhoea to be 

 followed in turn by renewed constipation, and such alternations 

 may repeat themselves again and again. The omasum is so 

 deeply seated under the ribs on the right side that exploration 

 is unsatisfactory, especially in the milder cases, yet pressure of 

 the closed fist upward and forward below the middle of the chest 

 will give the impression of a specially solid resistance and the 

 patient may indicate suffering by a moan. Percussion with the 

 closed fist has the same effect. There may be slight tremors of 

 the body, the horns, ears and limbs are cold, and the hair erect 

 in patches, dry and lustreless. 



In cases occurring independently of previous disease, diarrhoea 

 may be the -first symptom noted, the malady being preceded by 

 local irritation and congestion, but this soon gives place to con- 

 stipation and alternating diarrhoea and the general train of symp- 

 toms above mentioned. The animal leaves the herd and is found 

 lying apart on its left side with the nose in the right flank, the 

 pulse and breathing quickened, the eyes congested, and a moan 

 emitted occasionally in expiration. This is increased if the patient 

 is raised and driven, especially down hill. He walks with stiff, 

 arched back, unsteady gait and dragging limbs. Appetite may 

 not be entirely lost at first, but only impaired and irregular, and 

 as rumination ceases, grinding of the teeth becomes common. 

 The secretion of milk is diminished or altogether arrested and 

 emaciation advances day by day. Foetor of the eructations, the 

 result of prolonged and septic fermentation in the rumen is often 

 a marked symptom. 



This form may last from ten to fourteen days and merge finally 

 into paralysis of the hind limbs, drowsiness and stupor, or delir- 

 ium and convulsions. 



In the more acute cases resulting from a sudden acccess of green 

 food, a change of water, or the ingestion of irritant plants, the 

 affection partakes more or less of the nature of congestion or in- 



