ACUTE METEOBISM OF RUMINANTS, 



105» 



ACUTE METEORISM OP RUMINANTS. 

 Swelling- : Meteorism : Tympanites. 



We designate by these expressions an affection due to the sudden 

 and considerable production of gas in the first stomach of rumi- 

 nants, which is characterized by enormous distention of the abdo- 

 men. This disease is seen quite often in the ox, more rarely in the 

 sheep ) but in the bovine species the disease often affects a large 

 number of animals in the same flock. 



Etiolog-y. I. General causes. All foods which ferment rap- 

 idly and produce much gas may determine meteorism when intro- 

 duced in sufficient quantities into the digestive canal. The cause 

 of the trouble in meteorism is mostly due to the ingestion of green 

 fodder, either on the pasture or in the stable. In animals kept 

 constantly in the stable, the feeding with green or fermented food 

 is usually the starting-point of tympanites. This explains the 

 frequency of the disease during the holidays, when the farmers 

 have housed a supply of green food ; also during stormy, or hot^ 

 damp weather, which favors fermentation. When the animals go 

 to pasture the accident is especially to be feared, for the reason that 

 they have been used to dry feed for a long time ; the faster the 

 grasses have grown the greater the danger. Experience has taught 

 that meteorism is particularly common in years that have had a 

 cold spring, with vegetation at first delayed, but becoming very 

 active with the advent of warm weather (Spinola) ; the same obser- 

 vation has been made for those fertile plains where the soil is rick 

 and vegetation luxuriant. 



The animals are much exposed to it in the pastures when feeding 

 on grass covered with heavy dews, or wet with rain, or covered with 

 ice or frost ; also when drinking much after meals, and especially 

 when they swallow a large quantity of air while eating during 

 rainy and windy weather (Spinola). 



Without doubt many animals are specially predisposed to tym- 

 panites ; a few mouthfuls of an easily fermenting food is enough 

 to produce meteorism; the condition must then be ascribed to 

 a weakness of the digestive organs or to some pathological con- 

 dition which interferes with the eructations or the movements 

 of the rumen. But these latter causes rather determine chronic 

 meteorism. 



