98 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



Treatment. Submit the animals to a severe diet ; such is always- 

 the first iDdication to fi3llow, and it will have to be enforced as long^ 

 as rumination is interrupted. 



With the object of stimulating the movements of the stomach, we 

 give a few handfuls of fresh grass or food which is of easy diges- 

 tion, and this regimen has to be maintained, even after the return 

 of rumination ; the rumen has thus time to get rid of the alimen- 

 tary matters which are accumulated within it. In order to increase 

 the thirst we administer drinks with plenty of salt. Whey, which 

 some animals will readily take, is useful ; if they refuse it, we must 

 try to make them partake of as much water as possible, or of some 

 farinaceous drink. 



The movements of the stomach and intestine should be encour- 

 aged by dry frictions made upon the whole surface of the body and 

 by massage of the rumen through the left flank ; at times the rectum 

 should be emptied, and soap- or salt-water clysters must be given. 



When symptoms of dyspepsia exist we give hydrochloric acid in 

 doses of 10 grammes in a bottle of water (four or five times a day). 

 If there is constipation at the same time, and if defecations are 

 infrequent, laxatives should be prescribed : sulphate of magnesia or 

 Glauber salt in a mucilaginous excipient (flaxseed, mallow, fenu- 

 greek) ; we may also dissolve 750 grammes of sulphate of soda in 

 two or three litres of mucilage prepared with 250 grammes of lin- 

 seed ; this drink should be administered in three doses, at intervals 

 of two or three hours. We may also make them take these salts in 

 a bitter decoction (gentian), or some aromatic bitter (calamus). 



Tartar emetic and hellebore are advisable in cases where the 

 peristaltic movements are wanting : these two agents are given in 

 doses of 8 to 15 grammes. Tincture of white hellebore may also 

 be used (same dose). Harms injects subcutaneously 10 to 12 centi- 

 grammes of veratrine in alcoholic solution of 1 : 50. 



Modern authors recommend sulphate of eserine to counteract atony 

 and paresis of the gastro-intestinal muscular fibre (Moller, Dicker- 

 hoff, Feser). This means would be more available were not the 

 price of eserine so high. Feser administers it internally or by 

 injection into the rumen, in doses of 2 to 5 decigrammes, in liquid 

 solution, in small-sized oxen. In subcutaneous injections, the dose 

 is 1 decigramme in 2 c.cm. of water. When no sensible effect is 

 felt after five or six hours, the injection may be repeated. Hydro- 

 chlorate of pilocarpine has been overestimated ; it is of little value 



