IMPACTION OF THE COLON IN RUMINANTS.
Causes: Debility, hard, fibrous food, dry winter feeding, privation of water, astringents, smut, ergot. Symptoms: Hard, moulded, coated dung, blood-streaked, and in small quantity, tympany, dullness, debility, splashing sound when right flank is pressed, rectal exploration. Treatment: Laxative food, water, salt, strychnia, eserine, barium chloride, enemata, oils.
This is not a common affection in cattle, yet it does occur in weak and debilitated conditions, and in animals fed on fibrous and innutritious aliments. The ingesta are delayed in the gut, their liquid portion absorbed and the remainder accumulates in a hard mass, which distends and weakens the bowel. Dry winter feeding, with a scarcity of water strongly contributes to its production. Astringent plants in the hay, or smut or ergot may add to the tendency.
Symptoms. The fæces are hard and firm, glazed on the surface, coated with mucus and sometimes stained with blood. They are passed in small quantity and with much effort and straining, and finally the bowels become completely blocked, nothing whatever being passed. Tympany of the rumen now appears, especially after feeding, appetite and rumination fail, there is much dullness, debility, and loss of flesh and unless relieved, the animal dies in marasmus. Pressure on the right side of the abdomen made suddenly and forcibly produces a sound of liquid splashing in an air space, derived apparently from the accumulation above the obstruction. The oiled hand introduced into the rectum may feel the solid impaction, but in any case causes pain and moaning when the seat of the impaction is pressed upon.
Treatment. In the milder cases and earlier stages a change to sloppy food, green food, or boiled flaxseed, with plenty of salt, free access to water, and scruple doses of nux vomica may prove successful.
In the more advanced conditions with complete obstruction, give ½ lb. to 1 lb. each of sodium chloride, and sodic sulphate, and ½ dr. nux vomica, inject hypodermically 3 grs. eserine or 7 grains barium chloride, give water ad libitum, and frequent and large injections of soapsuds. If these latter are given cold they will still further stimulate the missing peristalsis. In obstinate cases a second dose of the salts, or 1 quart of castor oil may be given with the addition of 20 drops of croton oil.
When relief has been obtained, a laxative and nutritive diet and a course of bitters should follow.