GASTRO-INTESTINAL CATARRH OF THE OX 115 



therefore functional. In the other compartments of the 

 stomach, especially the abomasum, this is less true and in 

 them catarrh is readily noted on necropsy. Obviously when 

 the function of the rumen is impaired the other compart- 

 ments must suffer, and vice versa catarrhs of the reticulum, 

 omasum or abomasum will affect the functions of the rumen. 



Occurrence. — Gastro-intestinal catarrh is one of the most 

 common non-infectious diseases of cattle, particularly 

 stable-fed animals. Those on pasture are by no means 

 exempt, especially during periods of drought, extreme rain 

 or when the water supply is insufficient or bad. 



Etiology. — The most potent causes of gastro-intestinal 

 catarrh are foods and feeding. Foods which are too woody 

 (chaff, dried coarse grasses, shrubs, underbrush, tree tops), 

 improperly harvested forage (cut too green, fermenting clover, 

 over-ripe hay, etc.), spoiled food (mouldy .meal, decayed 

 vegetables), otherwise damaged food (frozen grass or silage, 

 frosted beets), and finally feeding kitchen offal in the form 

 of swill, etc. 



The injudicious feeding of good food can produce gastro- 

 intestinal catarrh as, for instance, overfeeding or the sudden 

 change from a well-balanced to a very narrow ration. With- 

 holding roughage is also a cause. Allowing a full drink of 

 cold water on a full stomach is harmful in this regard. Cattle 

 may overload the stomach by getting loose and gaining access 

 to the grain bins or fields of growing grain. 



Foreign bodies (nails, screws, pieces of tin, sand, hair 

 balls, stones) so common in the reticulum are causes. Patho- 

 logical conditions of the gullet (compression from enlarged 

 mediastinal lymph glands, diverticuli), stomach (adhesions, 

 abscess, actinomycomas, sarcomas, lymphomas in wall of 

 rumen and bowels, "nodule disease," Johne's disease, 

 tuberculosis, tumors). Psychic influences (removing" young 

 calf, strange environment) in nervous cattle may produce 

 temporary digestive disturbances. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of gastro-intestinal catarrh 

 are: 



Gastric. — Suppressed rumination; the cud not being chewed 

 at all or with little vigor. Impaired appetite; often no food 



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