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, 

 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, 

 their 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 faeces 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 pa.ssed. Tympany of the rumen now appears, 

 especially after feeding, appetite and rumination fail, there is 

 much dullness, debility, and loss of flesh and unless relieved, the 

 animal dies in marasmus. Pressure on the right side of the 

 abdomen made suddenly and forcibly produces a .sound of liquid 

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

 tion above the obstruction. The oiledi<hand introduced into the 

 rectum may feel the solid impaction, but in any case cau.ses pain 

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



Treatm,ent. In the milder ca.ses 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 Yt. lb. to I lb. each of .sodium chloride, and sodic sulphate, 

 and Y ^'^- "'^^ vomica, inject hypodermically 3 grs. eserine or 

 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 mi.ssing peristalsis. In ob- 

 203 



