32 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Causes.— Irritant food, damaged food, overloading of the stomach, 

 and sudden changes of diet may cause this disease. Want of exer- 

 cise predisposes to it, or food which is coarse and indigestible may- 

 after a time produce this condition. Food which possesses astringent 

 properties and tends to check secretion may also act as an exciting 

 cause. Food in excessive quantity may lead to disorder of digestion 

 and to this disease. It is very likely to appear toward the end of 

 protracted seasons of drought, therefore a deficiency of water must be 

 regarded as one of the conditions which favor its development. 



Symptoms. — Diminished appetite, rumination irregular, tongue 

 coated, mouth slimy, dung passed apparently not well digested and 

 smelling badly, dullness, and fullness of the flanks. The disease 

 may in some cases assume a chronic character, and in addition to the 

 foregoing symptoms slight bloating, or tympanites, of the left flank 

 may be observed; the animal breathes with effort and each respira- 

 tion may be accompanied by a grunt, the ears and horns are alter- 

 nately hot and cold, rumination ceases, the usual rumbling sound in 

 the stomach is not audible, the passage of dung is almost entirely 

 suspended, and the animal passes only a little mucus occasionally. 

 Sometimes there is alternating constipation and diarrhea. There is 

 low fever in many cases. 



The disease continues a few days or a week in the mild cases, while 

 the severe cases may last several weeks. In the latter form the ema- 

 ciation and loss of strength may be very great. There is no appe- 

 tite, no rumination, or peristalsis. The mouth is hot and sticky, the 

 eyes have receded in their sockets, and milk secretion has ceased. In 

 such cases the outlook for recovery is unf ayorable. The patient falls 

 away in flesh and becomes weaker, as is shown by the fact that one 

 frequently finds it lying down. 



On examining animals which have died of this disease it is found 

 that the lining membrane of the fourth stomach and the intestines, 

 particularly the small intestine, is red, swollen, streaked with deeper 

 red or bluish lines, or spotted. The lining of the first three stomachs 

 is more or less softened, and may easily be peeled off. The third 

 stomach (psalter) contains dry, hard food masses closely adherent to 

 its walls. 



In some cases the brain appears to become disordered, probably 

 from the pain and weakness and from the absorption of toxins gener 

 ated in the digestive canal. In such cases there is weakness and an 

 unsteady gait, the animal does not appear to take notice of and will 

 consequently run against obstacles; after a time it falls down and 

 gives up to violent and disordered movements. This delirious condi- 

 tion is succeeded by coma or stupor, and death ensues. 



