22 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



avoid a wrong passage, the end of the tube should be pressed very 

 slowly through the throat until its presence in the esophagus is as- 

 sured. After it is once in the esophagus care is still necessary, be- 

 cause the walls of this tube may easily be torn. 



Some writers have advised that v.hen tlie obstruction 'is lodged in 

 the cervical (neck) portion of the gullet it should be struck with a 

 mallet, to crush it and thus alter its shape, so that it may easily 

 slip down into the stomach. If the obstructing substance is hard, 

 this will be a dangerous operation, but if soft — as in the case of a 

 ripe pear, for example — this procedure may be safely adopted. 



In all cases, if pressure applied on the neck fails to move the 

 obstruction and the probang also fails to move it, it may be divided 

 by a subcutaneous operation, or the gullet may be opened and the 

 obstructing substance removed through the wound. In such cases 

 the assistance of a veterinarian or a surgeon must be oljtained. 



WOUNDS AND INJURIES OF THE GULLET. 



Sometimes the walls of the gullet may be more or less lacerated or 

 abraded by the rash and too forcible use of the probang, and tlie 

 animal consequently swallows with pain and difficulty. In such 

 cases dry feed must be withheld for five or six days, so as to allow the 

 injured parts to heal, and the diet must be limited to linseed tea, hay 

 tea, and thin oatmeal gruel and molasses. The same kind of diet 

 must be fed after the operation of cutting into the gullet has been 

 performed. 



Sometimes the gullet is ruptured and lacerated to such an extent 

 that treatment of anj^ kind is hopeless. This has been known to occur 

 when the handle of a pitchfork or buggy whip has been pushed clown 

 a cow's throat to remove an obstruction. When such treatment has 

 been applied it is best to slaughter the animal without delay, as the 

 flesh may be utilized so long as there is no fever or general disease, 

 and remedial treatment would be hopeless. In this connection it 

 may be mentioned that whatever substitute may be used for a pro- 

 bang, which sometimes is not at hand, it should be flexible and should 

 possess a smooth surface. A piece of new rope, with the end closelv 

 wrapped and waxed and then oiled, or a piece of thin garden hose, or 

 a well-wrapped twisted wire may be used in emergencies. 



DISEASES OF THE STOMACHS. 



ACUTE TYMPANITES (HOVEN, OR BLOATING). 



Tympanites is a distention of the rumen or paunch with o-ases of 

 fermentation, and is manifested outwardly by swelling in the i^eo-ion 

 of the left flank. 



Causes. — Tympanites may be caused by any kind of feed which 

 produces indigestion. When cattle are first turned into youno- clover 



