612 
HOOVIl in cattle. 
of practice gave it considerable reputation: it is at the present 
day the remedy most usually employed, in doses of an ounce and 
a half for the larger ruminants, and of two drachms for sheep, 
mixed in a pint of w’ater for the first of these animals, and a glass 
for the second. Experience has proved to me its efficacy when¬ 
ever the meteorization has been recent, and produced by green 
food, because in this case there has been no inflammation of the 
digestive organs. The effects of the medicine should be assisted 
by leading the animal about, and by clysters of warm water 
holding in solution some kitchen salt, or common soap. These 
will generally produce the evacuation of the excrement accumu¬ 
lated in the large intestines. 
But, whenever the state of the pulse, the redness of the tongue, 
and the heat of the mouth, have caused me to suspect the com¬ 
mencement of inflammation, I have always had recourse to sulphu¬ 
ric ether, because it very promptly condenses gases, and does not 
cause any dangerous irritation. The spirituous infusion of balm 
has a stimulating and diffusible property which produces a dilatation 
of the membranes of the paunch without too much exciting the 
nervous system; and it is second in action only to the ether. 
‘ This is one of those medicines which the veterinary surgeon 
should never be without,’ says M. Prevost: ‘ I have the greatest 
confidence in ether. In effect, it often acts with an astonishing 
promptitude.’ Whatever may have been the circumstances which 
have given M. Prevost so favourable an opinion of ether, I can only 
say that I was in the habit of using it a dozen years before the 
publication of the memoirs of that gentleman. I have been as suc¬ 
cessful with it in the flatulent colic of the horse as in the hoove of 
cattle. One circumstance, however, must be expected with regard 
to the cow—the milk will be spoiled, for it will acquire an almost 
insupportable smell of ether. This generally disappears on the 
third day, or on the fourth at the latest. 
M. Chariot has also a favourite remedy. Most of the chloru- 
rets have considerable good effect in neutralizing the gases disen¬ 
gaged in the rumen; but that which, in his opinion, has most effect 
is the chloruret of the oxide of sodium. 
‘‘ Whenever the meteorization is extreme, and the inflation of the 
rumen is so great as to interfere materially with the action of the 
diaphragm, and threaten a rupture of it, a puncture should be ef¬ 
fected by means of the trocar. This opening should be made at 
the superior part of the left flank, corresponding with the superior 
face of the rumen, at an equal distance from the last rib, the exter¬ 
nal angle of the paunch, and the transverse lumbar apophyses. 
Although the operation should be a last resource, according to 
Fromage de Feugre, it is nevertheless essential that it should take 
