THE COW IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 69 



as the cow begins to chew her cud and act 

 natural she should receive a dose of castor or 

 linseed oil. There are two operations that are 

 necessary to cure impaction when it is deter- 

 mined that medicinal treatment is of no avail, 

 but these operations can be performed only by 

 a veterinarian. 



Choke. 



Choke in cattle is usually the result of swal- 

 lowing turnips, apples, beets, potatoes and the 

 like, and sometimes from gorging chaff or straw. 

 It is quite common in the fall of the year in cows 

 that are pastured in orchards, especially after a 

 sudden windstorm that blows the apples from 

 the trees to where they may be eaten by the cow. 



The animal that is choked will show a varied 

 line of symptoms and it is sometimes difficult to 

 tell whether the animal is choked or not. When 

 drinking water, it will return through the 

 mouth if the choke is complete, but if the 

 gullet is not entirely closed the animal will 

 be able to swallow. If the gullet is entirely 

 closed the animal will usually bloat, owing 

 to the fact that the gas that is constantly 

 being formed in the paunch cannot be passed 

 upward through the gullet with the food that 

 is being remasticated, and thus accumulates 

 in the paunch. Sometimes the breathing is 

 quickened. 



If the object lodges in the throat and assistants 

 can be procured to hold the animal, a mouth gag 



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