114 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



rumen, etc. Diaphragmatic hernias with adhesion of the retic- 

 ulum to the walls of the thoracic cavity and to the organs con- 

 tained therein may also disturb rumination and eructations, and 

 produce chronic meteorism (Lindenberg). 



Symptoms. They are similar to those of chronic catarrh of the 

 stomach. The principal symptom is the permanent or intermittent 

 swelling of the left flank. Rumination is suppressed ; the move- 

 ments of the belly and its bruits are but slightly marked. The 

 difficulties of respiration and the anxiety which is always observed 

 in acute tympanites are ordinarily absent. Emaciation gradually 

 advances in proportion to the progress of the disease. 



Prognosis. The prognosis varies with the cause producing the 

 affection. When meteorism is under the influence of gastric catarrh, 

 it disappears with it; but if it is a consequence of one of the 

 organic alterations mentioned above — displacement or abnormal 

 adhesions of the large digestive compartments — it is incurable. 



Treatment. Only where meteorism is symptomatic of chronic 

 catarrh of the stomach should treatment be undertaken, and then 

 it is similar to that of the latter affection. 



A first important indication would be to establish proper alimen- 

 tary diet. Besides, we must try to check fermentation by giving 

 hydrochloric acid, hyposulphite of soda, etc., and also excite the 

 movements of the stomach by means of tartar emetic, white helle- 

 bore, or essence of turpentine. As a last resource we may perform 

 rumenotomy by means of an incision made upon the left flank. 

 The swelling seldom attains such proportions as to necessitate 

 puncture of the rumen. Absorbents procure but a temporary 

 amelioration. They are powerless against fermentations and the 

 inertia of the rumen. 



[The hypodermatic administration of strychnine in small and 

 repeated doses is of much value in overcoming the muscular inertia 

 of the rumen in this disease. Emetine and apomorphine, eserine 

 and pilocarpine may also be used with advantage in this form of 

 partial muscular paralysis. — w. l. z.] 



OVERLOADING OP THE RUMEN IN THE OX. 



Etiolog-y. The avidity of these animals for food to which they 

 are not accustomed (grass, green clover, new hay, malt, various 

 mashes, etc.), and the ingestion of excessive quantities of these 



