BLOATING IN THE OX 133 



begin with one-fourth to one-half rations. The drinking 

 water should not be too cold. 



Prophylaxis. — ^To prevent impaction sudden changes of 

 food, irregular feeding and the feeding of bulky roughage 

 in large quantities should be avoided. Cattle should be 

 allowed plenty of pure drinking water. When intensive 

 feeding is practised as during "milk tests," at the first sign 

 of trouble three or four feeds should be withheld for each 

 one refused, at the same time allowing plenty of water and 

 proper medicinal correctives. 



BLOATING IN THE OX. 



Tympanites. 



Definition. — ^A rapid distention of the abdomen of cattle 

 due to gas formed from the fermenting contents of the 

 rumen and reticulum. 



Occurrence. — A very common disorder especially among 

 cattle on pasture during hot, damp weather. Clover and 

 alfalfa pastures are most dangerous in this regard. 



Two clinical forms of bloating are recognized: 



1. Acute tympany. 



2. Chronic tympany. 



Acute Tympany — Etiology. — (a) Pasturing or feeding green 

 grasses especially legumes, such as clover, red clover, 

 alfalfa, vetches, peas or such foods as buckwheat, swamp- 

 grasses, etc. Such grasses are most dangerous just before 

 they bloom, particularly when wet with rain or dew. Young 

 grass growing in stubble fields is a common cause. (6) 

 Feeding foods which readily ferment, such as potatoes, beets 

 (residue of sugar beets), malt, withered, heated grass, etc. 

 (c) Certain toxic plants (spotted hemlock, water hemlock, 

 colchicum, tobacco), (d) Occlusion of the esophagus (choke) 

 will induce bloating if the stomach contents are of a kind 

 which easily ferment. 



Symptoms. — There is a rapid distention of the abdomen 

 especially of the left side. The abdomen assumes the shape 

 of an apple and is of the consistency of a partially inflated 



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