322 
TREATMENT OF ACUTE TYMPANITES. 
heart tumultuous, and, after staggering movements, the animal falls to 
the ground and rapidly dies. 
The course of the disease is acute ; death may occur within an hour; 
sometimes the attack continues for twelve to twenty-four hours, seldom 
longer. The more rapid the rate of distension, the greater the danger. 
The condition is particularly grave where the right flank also appears 
distended, a token that the colon is filled with gas. Slight cases may 
recover of themselves, but severe ones are always fatal if speedy help be 
not afforded. Large numbers of animals when under similar conditions 
may simultaneously become affected. 
Treatment. Internal remedies, such as lime water, spirits of ammonia, 
oil of turpentine, petroleum, chlorate of potassium, hyposulphite of 
soda, &c., have been recommended to assist absorption of gas and to 
Fig. 146.—Mouth gag for oxen. 
prevent its further development. Lungwitz, on the basis of his labora¬ 
tory researches, recommends 4 per cent, magnesia usta suspended in 
water, milk of lime, and 2 per cent, of spirits of ammonium, or, in 
emergencies, soapy water. These materials are seldom of much service 
and are only used in semi-acute tympanites. 
Fastening a piece of plaited straw smeared with tar in the mouth, 
inserting the mouth gag (fig. 146), or drawing the tongue strongly 
forward, is said to assist eructation and give relief, and the use of the 
probang has been recommended. 
Stiong pressure on the left flank is more effective. The gases are 
directly discharged, and movements of the paunch at the same time 
excited. 
Though such measures may prove sufficient in slight cases, time 
should not be lost in making trial of them in severe attacks ; and as 
soon as dyspnoea is marked, the probang or trochar ought at once to be 
employed. 
The probang for cattle generally conists of a spiral of steel provided 
with a coating of leather (fig. 74), though the simple steel spiral is 
