ACUTE METEOBISM OF RUMINANTS. 



109 



cure is not always complete ; there are cases where the food contained 

 in the rumen continues to ferment, and the production of gas goes 

 on from twelve to twenty-four hours, sometimes longer. On the 

 other hand, a spontaneous cure may occur if there are eructations 

 and abundant defecations. 



Prognosis. The prognosis is always serious. It is formulated 

 according to the cause and intensity of the disease, its more or less 

 rapid evolution, the possibility of counteracting it immediately, and 

 the number of meteorized animals. 



Treatment. The indications of the prophylactic treatment are 

 deduced from consideration of the etiology. The change from dry 

 to green alimentation must be made gradually, with precaution, and 

 not suddenly as is usually done. The organs of digestion must 

 gradually become used to this food, in order to consume large quanti- 

 ties of green grass without danger. 



Pastures growing a quantity of watery and poor vegetation must 

 be avoided ; animals in lean condition must especially be kept from 

 them. 



If the animals are kept on green food in the stable, fermentation 

 of the fodder may be avoided by keeping it in a cool place, or 

 spreading it in thin layers ; when such fodder is already heated, it 

 must be given in small quantities and mixed with straw or hay. 

 Lastly, all large farms and agricultural communities ought to keep 

 the necessary instruments, and especially the œsophageal sound, 

 always at hand and in working order. 



As soon as the signs of meteorism are observed, the patients must 

 be prevented from eating, and treated immediately. At first we 

 must do our best to obtain the evacuation of the gases by the œso- 

 phageal route. This indication can be performed in different ways, 

 either by pulling the tongue out of the mouth, which provokes 

 nausea and eructations, or by traction upon the commissures of the 

 lips by means of a knotted straw rope ; this gives rise to involun- 

 tary movements of the tongue which produce eructations and some- 

 times vomiting. A straw halter used like a snaffle and adjusted on 

 the neck acts in the same way ; some practitioners aim to make it 

 more effective by coating it with pitch or wagon grease. Rouchon 

 eulogizes the good effects of the movements called forth in ascend- 

 ing a hill ; too rapid or violent movements, however, should be 

 avoided, for they can certainly only increase the trouble. 



Strong and prolonged pressures upon the left flank are sometimes 



