24 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



mallet, so as 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 case of a ripe 

 pear, for example — -this proceeding may be safely adopted. 



In all cases where 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 obtained. 



WOUNDS AND INJURIES OF THB GULLET. 



Sometimes from the rash and too forcible use of the probang the 

 walls of the gullet may be more or less lacerated or abraded, and the 

 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 any kind is hopeless. This has been known to occur 

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

 down a cow's throat to remove an obstruction. Where.such treat- 

 ment 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 dis- 

 ease, 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 closely 

 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 OP THE STOMACH. 

 ACUTE TYMPANITES (HOVEN, OR BLOATING). 



This disease is characterized by swelling of the left flank and is 

 caused by the formation of gas in the rumen, or paunch (See Plq 

 I and II.) ' V 



Causes.— Tympanites may be caused by any kind of food which pro- 

 duces indigestion. When cattle are first turned into young clover 

 they eat so greedily of it that tympanites frequently results; turnips 

 potatoes, and cabbage may also cause it; middlings and corn meal 

 also frequently give rise to it. In this connection it may be stated 

 that an excessive quantity of any of the before-mentioned foods may 



