250 
RUMENOTOMY IN A COW. 
cabbages and other prepared food, and was tied up in a cow¬ 
shed along with others, which shed being very much crowded, 
the air consequently was very hot and impure, and therefore 
ill-adapted for an animal labouring under a disease impeding 
the function of respiration. Under these circumstances, 
coupled with others, she could not have been properly 
attended to where she was, so I had her brought to my 
infirmary, a distance of about half a mile, allowing her to 
take her time; and she managed it tolerably well. Her 
stomach was now distended to such an extent that she 
touched both sides of the door-way as she entered the yard. 
This was about eight p.m. She was at once placed in a com¬ 
fortable, airy, loose box, and powdered charcoal, lb.iss, diffused 
in a quart of water, administered to her, with a view to absorb 
the gaseous matters evolved. This was repeated in the 
course of a short time, but without affording any relief 
whatever. 
At 9 p.m. I gave Sp. Ammon. Arom. 3iv, in a quart of 
water, and this too proved ineffectual. 
At 10 p.m. I gave the following draught: 
Magnesise Sulpli., ^xvj ; 
Aloes, 5vj ; 
Gentianse Pulv., 5yj; 
Tincturse Zingib., ; 
Aquae, q. s. Fiat iiaustus. 
At 11 p.m. I applied the stomach-tube, and also introduced 
the trochar, both of which made very little difference, the 
gas being mixed up, as it were, with the ingesta, which was 
in a state of fermentation. The Sp. Ammon. Arom. was 
repeated, but still was of no avail. 
At 12.30, seeing there was now no chance for her, except 
by performing the operation of rumenotomy, as she con¬ 
tinued to get worse and suffocation was threatened, I decided 
upon so doing, and that as quickly as possible. I made an 
incision into the left side, about four inches in length, com¬ 
mencing from where the trochar had punctured the body; 
then carried the incision through the coats of the stomach, 
and having secured that viscus, I proceeded to extract the 
pultaceous mass to the extent of a wheelbarrow full. At 
times the more liquid parts flowed through the orifice in a 
continual stream. Then, having cleansed the parts, I applied 
sutures to the rumen and also the abdominal parietes, and 
left her for the night, she being very much relieved. 
December 2Sd, 8 a.m.—The bowels not having acted, 
J gave 
