140 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND BOWELS 



disease, tuberculosis, tumors, adhesions, chronic metritis, 

 pyelonephritis or even rabies may each have associated 

 with it atony of the forestomachs. 



Course. — While mild attacks usually yield to treatment 

 in a few days, chronic cases often become protracted into 

 weeks during the course of which exacerbations and remis- 

 sions are noted. Signs of improvement are a copious dis- 

 charge of feces, the disappearance of bloat and impaction 

 from the rumen and the return of paunch movements and 

 rumination. In pregnant cows quite commonly the symp- 

 toms subside a few days after parturition. Unfavorable 

 symptoms are complete loss of appetite, continuous bloat, 

 obstinate constipation or, on the other hand, exhaustive 

 diarrhea, fever or subnormal temperature, pain on pressure 

 over the rumen, paralytic symptoms (inability to stand), 

 emaciation. The duration of atony, while usually about 

 one month, may become protracted into several months. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis depends upon whether or not 

 the atony is primary or secondary. Primary cases usually 

 yield to corrective treatment provided they have not lasted 

 too long. Obviously success in secondary cases depends 

 upon the primary disease. Healing is slow, usually requir- 

 ing two to three weeks. Atony attending pregnancy usually 

 disappears after the birth of the calf. 



Treatment. — Hygienic. — Food should be withheld or re- 

 stricted (muzzle) for a few days in acute cases. Kneading 

 the walls of the abdomen five to ten minutes every three 

 hours or three times daily is helpful. Salt and plenty of 

 water should be made accessible. If food is allowed it 

 should be easily digested and laxative (fresh grass, bran 

 gruels, fine hay, root crops). Turning the animal out to 

 grass is good. 



Medicinal. — ^Where necessary to relieve constipation laxa- 

 tive drugs are indicated as in impaction of the rumen (see 

 this). The same applies to agents which stimulate paunch 

 movements. Alcohol in small doses (Biss) well diluted in 

 water given every two hours is serviceable. Hydrochloric 

 acid (Bj in water Oj) not only stimulates digestion but 

 tends to arrest fermentation in the stomach. Creolin 



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