DISEASES OE THE DIGESTIVE OKGANS. 33 



Treatment. — Small quantities of roots, sweet silage, or selected grass 

 or hay should be offered several times daily; Very little food should 

 be allowed. Aromatic and demulcent drafts may be given to produce 

 a soothing effect on the mucous lining of the stomachs and to promote 

 digestion. Two ounces of chamomile flowers should be boiled for 

 twenty minutes in a quart of water and the infusion on cooling should 

 be given to the affected animal. This may be repeated about three 

 times a day. When constipation is present the following purgative 

 may be administered: One pound of Glauber's salts dissolved in a 

 quart of linseed tea and a pint of molasses. After this purgative has 

 acted, if there is a lack of appetite and the animal does not ruminate 

 regularly, the powder mentioned in remarks on the treatment of 

 chronic tympanites may be given according to directions. The diet 

 must be rather laxative and of a digestible character after an attack 

 of this form of indigestion. Food should be given in moderate quan- 

 tities, as any excess by overtaxing the digestive functions may bring 

 on a relapse. Ice-cold water should be avoided. 



INDIGESTION FEOM DRINKING COLD WATER (COLIC). 



This disorder is produced by drinking copiously of cold water, 

 which arrests digestion and produces cramp of the fourth stomach, 

 probably of the other stomachs, and also of the bowels. 



Causes. — It is not customary for the ox to drink much water at once. 

 In fact, he usually drinks slowly and as if he were merely tasting the 

 water, letting some fall out at the corners of his mouth at every mouth- 

 ful. It would, therefore, seem to be contrary to the habits of the ox 

 to drink largely; but we find that during hot weather, when he has 

 been working, and is consequently very thirsty, if he drinks a large 

 quantity of cold water he may be immediately taken with a very severe 

 colic. Cows which are fed largely on dry hay drink copiously, like 

 the working ox, and become affected in precisely the same manner. 

 In such cases they are seized with a chill or fit of trembling before the 

 cramps come on. 



Symptoms. — There is some distention of the abdomen, but no accu- 

 mulation of gas. As the distention and pain occur immediately after 

 the animal has drunk the water, there can be no doubt as to the 

 exciting cause. 



Treatment. — Walk the animal about for ten minutes before admin- 

 istering medicine, as this allows time for a portion of the contents of 

 the stomach to pass into the bowel, and renders it safer to give medi- 

 cine. In many cases the walking exercise and the diarrhea bring 

 about a spontaneous cure of this disorder, but as in some instances 

 the cramps and pains of the stomachs persist, one may give 1 ounce 



61386—08 3 



