120 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



ever, the end of the cannula is plugged up with green 

 food. This can usually be remedied by pulling out the 

 cannula part way, or pushing the trocar in again and 

 withdrawing it. If this doesn't work, tap the stomach 

 again in another place, using the same hole through the 

 skin. The escape of gas is usually accompanied by a 

 small quantity of green food. 



^Tf a trocar and cannula are not available in an urgent 

 case, a knife can be used very successfully — a good-sized 

 pocket knife blade, pushed quickly through the skin and 

 muscles, in the same manner as described for the trocar 

 and cannula. Care must be taken that the sharp edge of 

 the blade is not turned towards the animal's tail, as it 

 sometimes jumps forward, and a much larger hole is cut 

 than was originally intended. 



"A careful and observing stockman of Colorado, who 

 has had a large experience with alfalfa bloating, informs 

 me that he prefers a moderately small, sharp butcher 

 knife to either a trocar and cannula or a pocket knife. It 

 gives relief quicker and with no bad effects. Sometimes, 

 if the opening through the skin is small, made by a small 

 knife, a quill or small tube is fastened in to keep the incis- 

 ion open, so the gas can escape. It is usually necessary 

 to keep the incision open for several hours. The only bad 

 result of tapping is that occasionally green food gets 

 outside of the rumen into the abdominal cavity in suffi- 

 cient quantities to cause inflammation and death; but if 

 the operation is intelligently performed, these bad results 

 are extremely rare — ^probably not more than one case in 

 100, If the weather is warm, care should be taken that 

 flies do not bother the wound in the skin. 



