28 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



After having done this the iineasiiiess subsides and in a short time 

 the animal resnmes catini'; as if nothing h;id happened. 



Cause.— The cause of this disordered state of the digestive system 

 in cattle is nsnally obscure, Init has in some cases been traced to a 

 partial closure of the opening into the second stomach or to a disten- 

 tion of the esophagus. It has been found to occur when there was 

 cancerous disease of the fourth stomach, and experimentally it has 

 lieen shown that a suspension of digestion or great derangement of 

 this stomach produces considerable neivous disorder of the rumen 

 and sometimes vomiting oi- attempts to vomit. 



Treatment. — Easily digested feed and plenty of water should be 

 given. Fear and excitement, chasing, or hurrying animals after 

 they have eaten heartily are liable to bring on this result. In order 

 to overcome irritation which may produce vomiting the following 

 draft should be given : H3'drate of chloral, half an ounce ; water, 1 

 pint. The dose must be repeated when the condition of the animal 

 seems to require it. As a )Tde, treatment is not successful. 



DEPRAVED APPETITE (PICA). 



Cattle suffering from this disease ha^ e a capricious and variable 

 appetite as regards their ordinary feed but evince a strong desire to 

 lick and eat substances for which healthy cattle show no inclination. 

 Alkaline and saline-tasting substances ai'e especially attractive to 

 cattle having a depraved api)etite and tliey frequently lick lime, 

 earth, coal, gravel, and even the dung of other cattle. Cows in calf 

 and young cattle are especially liable to develop these symptoms. 

 Animals affected in this way lose condition, their coat is starino;. o^ait 

 slow, and small vesicles containing yellow liquid form imder tire 

 tongue ; the milk given l>y such cows is thin and waterj'. Such ani- 

 mals become restless and uneasy, as is indicated l)v frequent bellow- 

 ing. The disease may last for months, the animal ultimately dyino- 

 emaciated and exhausted. Depraved appetite frequently precedes 

 the condition in which the bones of cattle become brittle and fracture 

 easily, which is known as osteomalacia. 



Cause. — From the fact that this disease is largely one of reaions 

 it is generally believed that some condition of the soil and water and 

 of the local vegetation is responsible for it. It is more prevalent 

 some years than others, and is most common in old countries, where 

 the soil is more or less depleted. Cattle pastured on low, swampy 

 land become predisposed to it. It occasionally happens, however 

 that one individual in a herd suffei's tliongh all are fed alike; in such 

 cases the disease must arise from the affected animal's imperfect 

 assimilation of the nutritive elements of the feed which is supplied 

 to it. 



