116 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND BOWELS 



being taken or only in small quantities. Quite often foamy 

 saliva appears at the commissures, of the mouth. The 

 muzzle usually becomes dry and the nostril openings are not 

 cleaned by the tongue. Eructations of gas from the gullet 

 (belching) is a common symptom. Occasionally a regurgita- 

 tion (not true vomiting) of rumen contents through the 

 mouth is noted. The hollow of the left flank is distended 

 with gas, the paunch movements either cease or are very 

 feeble and on palpation (over flank or through rectum) the 

 food in the rumen feels firmer and retains finger imprints 

 longer than in health. In some cases palpation of the left 

 flank distresses the patient. 



Intestinal.- — Occasionally colicy pains are manifested by the 

 animal switching its tail and kicking against the abdomen 

 with its hind limbs. Rolling, as in the horse, is rarely ob- 

 served. The bowels are.generally constipated, the feces black, 

 hard and dry, sometimes covered with blood-stained mucus 

 and passed in the form of fist-sized balls. If the patient has 

 been fed on very succulent food (beets, beet tops) there may 

 be diarrhea. In chronic cases the constipation may be 

 interrupted by diarrhea,, the feces having a sour, fetid odor 

 and occasionally admixed with mucus, shreds of fibrin and 

 blood. Peristalsis is lively when diarrhea is present, sup- 

 pressed during constipation. 



General. — In mild, acute cases there is little general 

 disturbance beyond a certain degree of languor or restlessness. 

 When the indigestion persists for several days the patient 

 may be distressed, standing with all four feet drawn together, 

 its head forced into a corner or against the stanchion, the 

 teeth are gnashed frequently, the back is arched, the muzzle 

 is dry and the eyes retracted. Fever is present, beginning 

 about the third day. The temperature is rarely high (104.5° 

 F.). The pulse becomes rapid and weak. If bloating or 

 great impaction of the rumen are present, dyspnea exists. In 

 chronic cases the general condition grows continuously worse, 

 the patient becoming anemic, emaciated, even cachectic and 

 eventually dies of inanition. 



Diagnosis. — The disease should be distinguished from acute 

 bloat (marked distention, dyspnea, sudden appearance, short 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



