33 
A CASE OF CHRONIC INDIGESTION IN A COW 
CURED WITH EMETIC. 
By Herr Rehrs, of Leyden. 
A COW had suffered under a severe and dangerous attack of 
chronic indigestion for more than three weeks. This appeared to 
have been brought on by eating a great quantity of raspberry 
branches : the animal immediately after swelled to an enormous 
size, and lost all appetite and the power of rumination ; the milk 
also diminished very much. The owner sent for a quack in 
the neighbourhood, who prescribed for her, but without success. 
A veterinary surgeon of some celebrity was then consulted, and 
under his treatment violent purging was induced, the swelling of 
the belly diminished, and the animal recovered its appetite ; but 
as soon as it began to eat every bad symptom returned with 
increased violence. At this period I was called in. The cow had 
but little appetite, rumination had entirely ceased, she voided dry 
dark browm dung, the belly was puffed to an immense size, and the 
back strangely curved ; the circulation and breathing were some- 
what quickened, but in other respects regular ; the secretion of 
milk had wholly ceased ; the hair stood up roughly, and the skin 
was close and immoveable. 
Repeated observations had shewn me the beneficial effects of 
the rad. hellebor. nigr. on flatulence in cows, and consequently I 
resolved without delay to test its efficacy in the present case. I 
therefore prescribed 
Rad. hellebor. nigr 3vj 
Aloes socot Jij 
Sulph Jvj 
Aq. comm Rjij 
to be divided into four doses, and given to the animal in the course 
of tw r o days. 
A slow and often interrupted rumination came on, the flanks be- 
came less distended, the appetite improved, the dung was softer, 
and was voided more frequently. I repeated the medicine with 
this exception, that in the place of aloes I gave pulv. rad. gen- 
tian. The ruminating process still continued to be very imperfect, 
and frequently, for whole days, was not visible at all. The ap- 
petite had returned to its natural state, although the cow still con- 
tinued to be very much swollen. I now had recourse to emetic 
tartar, and gave this in conjunction wjxh nitre in a decoction of 
linseed. No sensible results were produced ; the rumination still 
remained imperfect, and the flanks distended. 
VOL. XVII. E 
