IMPACTION OF THE COLON IN RUMINANTS. 



Causes : Debility, hard fibrous food, dry winter feeding, privation of 

 water, astringents, smut, ergot. Symptoms : Hard, moulded, coated dung i 

 blood-streaked, and in small quantity, tympany, dullness, debility, splashing 

 sound when right flank is pressed, rectal exploration. Treatment : Laxative 

 food, water, salt, strychnia, eserine, barium chloride, enemata, oils. 



This is not a common affection in cattle, yet it does occur in 

 weak and debilitated conditions, and in animals fed on fibrous 

 and innutritious aliments. The ingesta are delayed in the gut, 

 the liquid portion absorbed and the remainder accumulates in a 

 hard mass, which distends and weakens the bowel. Dry winter 

 feeding, with a scarcity of water strongly contributes to its pro- 

 duction. Astringent plants in the hay, or smut or ergot may 

 add to the tendency. 



Symptoms. The faeges are hard and firm, glazed on the sur- 

 face, coated with mucus and sometimes stained with blood. They 

 are passed in small quantity and with much effort and straining, 

 and finally the bowels become completely blocked, nothing what- 

 ever being passed. Tympany of the rumen now appears, espec- 

 ially after feeding, appetite and rumination fail, there is much 

 dullness, debility, and loss of flesh and unless relieved, the ani- 

 mal dies in marasmus. Pressure on the right side of the abdo- 

 men made suddenly and forcibly produces a sound of liquid 

 splashing in an air space, derived apparently from the accumula- 

 tion above the obstruction. The oiled hand introduced into the 

 rectum may feel the solid impaction, but in any case causes pain 

 and moaning when the seat of the impaction is pressed upon. 



Treatment. In the milder cases and earlier stages a change to 

 sloppy food, green food, or boiled flaxseed, with plenty of salt, 

 free access to water, and scruple doses of nux vomica may prove 

 successful. 



In the more advanced conditions with complete obstruction, 

 give y 2 lb. to i lb. each of sodium chloride, and sodic sulphate, 

 and % dr. nux vomica, inject hypodermically 3 grs. eserine or 

 intravenously 7 grains barium chloride, give water ad libitum, and 

 frequent and large injections of soapsuds. If these latter are given 

 cold they will still further stimulate the missing peristalsis. In 

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