DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS 33 



mucous membrane. Those most commonly used are antimonii et 

 potassii tartras, veratrum, ipecacuanha, alcohol, *veratrina, areco- 

 linse hydrobromidum, physostigminae salicylas or sulphas [eserine], 

 *eseridin tartras, pilocarpinse hydrochloridum or nitras, oleum 

 terebinthinse, *tabacum, colchici semen, ammonii carbonas and 

 aqua ammonise. 



In cattle practice, the most important ruminatorics are tartar 

 emetic, veratrum, veratrin and arecoline. Doses: Tartar emetic, 

 for cattle, 10-20, 3ijss to v. Powdered veratrum or the tincture, 

 for cattle, 5-10, 3i to ijss; sheep and goats, 0.5-2, grs. vij to xxx. 

 Oil of turpentine, cattle, 25-50, 3vj to xij; sheep and goats, 2-5, 

 1IRXXX to 3j- Veratrin and eserine, for cattle, 0.1-0.2, grs. IJ^ 

 to 3. Arecoline, for cattle, up to 0.05, gr. ^. 



In carnivora, an emetic not rarely acts as a good stomachic. 



3. MECHANICAL TREATMENT 



In ruminants, the rumen is situated in the left flank and is in 

 contact with the abdominal wall when greatly distended. It can 

 therefore be very easily massaged. Massage, or kneading, of the 

 rumen is of the greatest importance in the treatment of digestive 

 disturbances in cattle, especially impaction of the rumen, acute 

 tympanites and all atonic conditions of the musculature of the 

 rumen. It stimulates reflexly the muscular contractions of the 

 rumen, which under normal conditions occur about twice a minute. 

 In dogs, the stomach when full also lies close to the abdominal 

 wall and can also be massaged. It is not possible, however, to 

 massage the stomach of the horse, because even when full it can 

 not be palpated through the abdominal wall. 



Of the other mechanical methods, the most important is the 

 introduction of the oesophageal sound in ruminants and of the 

 stomach tube in horses to remove gas and the fluid contents of the 

 stomach. Electrotherapy and hydrotherapy are not usually em- 

 ployed on animals. The emetics also act in a mechanical manner 

 in emptying the stomach of its contents (see p. 34). 



[For several years, American veterinarians have been using soft 

 rubber tubes to remove gas from the stomach of horses and to 

 3 



