J. C. MEYERS 
'^34 
The nourishment, consisting of gruel and flaxseed meal tea 
and medicines, all of which the cow received in drench form for 
nine days, seemed to have the effect of ridding the reticulum, 
omassum and abomassum of accumulated food, which stomachs, 
as stated above, were nearly empty, and looked as if they were 
washed out. The rumen, on the contrary, was so full of coarsely 
masticated hay that it might be called overloaded, notwith¬ 
standing the fact that not a particle of solid food was added to 
it ever since the cow got down. 
A remarkable feature to me, was the contrast between the 
fullness of the rumen and the emptiness of the other three 
stomachs. Why the contents of the rumen was not more soft¬ 
ened is also singular, but Professor Pott informs us that part of 
the liquid which ruminants drink enters first into the reticulum, 
and from there into the rumen ; and the rest, by means of the 
cesophagus groove into the omassum and abomassum. When 
the animal is capable of a full swallow, which is from 500 to 700 
grams, the greater part will flow .into the first two stomachs, 
judging by the above explanation, the rumen in this case did 
not receive its share, as in drenching the swallows are small, in 
fact it is doubtful whether the cow was able to swallow at all, as 
the pharyngeal muscles are commonly paralyzed in cattle 
afflicted thus, when drinking is impossible, but liquid food, if 
carefully administered, will reach its proper destination. 
Another cow, four years old, of Holstein breed, is thin in 
flesh, as most of her companions ; has not eaten much since she 
first took sick ten days ago ; a foam-like saliva drips from the 
mouth ; eyes squint, bulbus nearly normal. Coughs often and 
forcibly; respiration 16°, circulation 50°, vesicular murmur a 
little heavier and plainer. Stands and moves about without 
showing much weakness. When standing, the muscles of the 
posterior extremities shiver, which is not perceptible when lying 
down, nor can any pain be detected by palpitating that region. 
Discharge from bowels regular, but in small quantities. Appe¬ 
tite improving. Rumination has not yet set in, nor has the pro¬ 
duction of milk. 
