TRANSLATIONS FROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 173 
VOMITING, COUGH, AND ATROPHY IN A COW, PROBABLY 
CAUSED BY A PUNCTURE OE THE PNEUMOGASTllIC 
NERVE. 
By M. Festal. 
A three-year-old cow, eight months in calf, was slightly 
deranged in health, for which it was deemed necessary to 
bleed her. This was done with a heavy blow given by a clumsy 
blood-stick on the fleam. On the infliction of the blow, the 
cow made a sudden jump, accompanied by a loud lowing, 
and this was so remarkable, that the proprietor could not 
help exclaiming, “You have killed my cow!” The pain, 
however, soon subsided, and on some hay being given to 
the animal at feeding time, she took the first mouthful with 
avidity, but the subsequent one only slowly, and after having- 
taken the third, she stood back, lowered her head, and 
brought up the last bolus, and in succession the two former 
ones, each being perfectly distinct. This regurgitation being 
completed, she again took three more mouthfuls, and these 
were brought up in the same manner. A third attempt had 
also the same result. 
This peculiarity lasted for ten days, when the proprietor 
sent for M. Festal, who found the cow much emaciated and 
very weak, but presenting no symptoms of impaired health. 
The respiration was, however, somewhat increased, although 
auscultation of the chest indicated nothing abnormal. Rumi¬ 
nation had ceased ever since the accident. M. Festal 
ordered some hay to be given to the animal, when the above- 
described swallowing and regurgitation were repeated in exactly 
the same manner as before. After a great many surmises— 
such as the existence of strictures, tumours in the oesophagus, 
&c.—the conclusion arrived at was, that the pneumogastric 
nerve had been punctured in the act of bleeding, although 
there appeared neither thrombus nor phlebitis. 
The treatment in this case was both difficult and uncertain, 
as before the puncture could become cicatrized, the animal 
might be starved. As liquids, however, had not been regur¬ 
gitated, there was some hope of sustaining life by means of 
them. For six days not any solid food was given the animal. 
The emaciation was now frightful; the flanks nearly touched, 
the pulse was very weak, and yet, on the whole, the patient 
seemed to be healthy. A handful of hay was now given her, 
and some water directly after. No regurgitation having 
occurred, and being emboldened bv this, a double handful of 
xxxiv. 13 
