108 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



rumination is suspended ; after several small defecations they make 

 vain repeated expulsive efforts. The extremities are usually gath- 

 ered under them, but at other times are much spread, as if to avoid 

 falling ; the back is arched, the tail high, the ears hanging, and the 

 animals will only advance when puslied or when threatened by the 

 whip. 



With the increase of tympanites, the respiration is accelerated and 

 becomes painful ; we notice anxiety, excitement, stamping, conges- 

 tion of the mucous membrane, conjunctiva, and especially of the 

 sclerotic ; the superficial veins, mainly those of the head and neck, 

 as well as the mammary veins (Roll), are swollen and very salient; 

 the eye is haggard, opened wide, and prominent; the lower part of 

 the ears, and the joints and flanks, are covered with sweat; the pulse 

 becomes more and more accelerated, small, and soon imperceptible ;, 

 the heart contractions are tumultuous, at times we notice slight 

 attacks of cough. 



The dyspnœa increases rapidly ; the nostrils are dilated, the 

 mouth is half open and the tongue hanging, the saliva runs on the 

 ground ; the patients complain, groaning repeatedly ; there is nausea 

 without any effectual eructations ; vomiting is very rare (Rijnders). 

 Soon the anxiety becomes extreme, the extremities are cold, the 

 mucous membranes cyanosed ; finally the animals become immov- 

 able and stupefied, sink to the ground, and succumb to convulsions. 



Pathology. The pathology of these phenomena is very simple • 

 the clinical picture of acute meteorism is the same as that of poison- 

 ing by carbonic acid, sometimes like that of cerebral apoplexy. The 

 intoxication is partially determined by difficulty of breathing, in part 

 also by absorption of carbonic acid, which takes place in the rumen,, 

 and by the passage of this gas into the blood in accordance with 

 the laws of diffusion. The injection of the mucous membranes, 

 cerebral hyperemia, and swelling of the veins, are due to the pres- 

 sure exercised upon the large vessels contained in the abdominal 

 cavity by the distended organs, and also to considerable hindrance 

 experienced by the returning circulation ; when this obstruction be- 

 comes intense, ecchymoses are produced, and cerebral apoplexy may 

 supervene at any instant. 



Course. The course of acute tympanites is always very rapid. 

 If not remedied, it generally causes death within a few hours, some- 

 times in one hour, occasionally even in half an hour. When, by 

 proper treatment, we succeed in evacuating the gas for the time, the 



