This disorder—of very frequent occurrence among cattle, though not belonging exclusively to them—is of two kinds; one due to the evolution of gas from the food taken, the other to the impaction of the food. In one case the gas produces enormous inflation of the rumen, or first of the four stomachs possessed by cattle, in the other distension.
Diagnosis.—To Mr. Surmon we are indebted for the following table of
| DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DISTENSION FROM GAS AND FOOD | |
|---|---|
| DISTENTION FROM GAS | DISTENTION FROM IMPACTED FOOD |
| The left flank, on pressure, feels soft, elastic and yielding to the fingers. On percussion, sounds hollow and drum-like. | The left flank, on pressure, feels solid; does not yield readily to the fingers. On percussion, or on being struck, sounds dull. |
| Frequent belching; the wind which escapes has an offensive smell. | No belching or eructation of wind. |
| Respiration quick, short and puffing. | Respiration not much interfered with. |
| Position standing; head stretched forward, unable to move; moans, and appears in great distress; eyes red and staring. | Position lying down, and is with difficulty induced to move; looking dull and listless. |
Causes.—When cattle, especially such as have had poor and scanty food, are turned into a rich pasture, or stray into the fields of lucern, etc., they will often eat ravenously, and take more than they can digest. Wet grass in warm weather, or fodder that has become heated in consequence of being heaped together while damp, may also be too freely eaten. The consequence is that the rumen is overloaded, and the contents, under the influence of warmth and moisture, ferment and evolve what is at first carburetted hydrogen; and subsequently sulphuretted hydrogen; or, if there be no formation of gas, the food remains solid and undigested. Drinking excessively of cold water, eating too much bran, chaff, unboiled potatoes, uncrushed oats, grains, boiled roots or turnips, may cause the same condition.
Symptoms.—These may appear suddenly, but always soon after the animal has been feeding, generally on returning from the field; they may, however, occur in the stable. The animal ceases to eat or ruminate, is swollen or “blown” over the whole belly, but particularly at the flanks or left side, where the distended stomach lies. The rumen is enormously swollen, the pillars of the œsophagus are tightly closed, thus preventing the escape of gas; and the greater the distention the firmer is the closure of the œsophagus. The swelling yields when pressed by the finger, and gives forth a hollow sound, like that from a drum when it is struck. There are also sour and noisy belchings of wind; the cow does not move, moans, and is evidently in great distress. The distended rumen presses on the diaphragm and impedes the action of the heart and lungs, causing shortness and difficulty of breathing; the nostrils are widely dilated, and there is a threatening of suffocation. As the disease advances, the pulse becomes hard, full, and quicker than before; the eyes are bloodshot, glazed, fixed and prominent; the mouth is hot and full to dripping of frothy slaver; the tongue hangs out; the veins of the neck and chest are distended with blood; the poor beast crouches, with its back bent up; the legs are drawn under the body; the tail is curved upward; the anus, which is closed, protrudes. The body is now covered with cold sweat; the animal stands in one place, continually moans or grunts, trembles, totters, falls, struggles violently, ejects from mouth and nose sour fluid mixed with solid food, and at length sinks and dies, either from suffocation or rupture of the stomach.
Treatment.—This is the same whether the distention is from gas or impacted food. F.F. may be given a dose every quarter or half hour. We give the method of puncturing, which, however, need never be resorted to if the F.F. be administered.
Puncturing.—Relief is sometimes very urgently required, and this is best afforded either by plunging a trocar into the left side, or by passing a probang down the œsophagus into the paunch. If the trocar is used, let the canula of the instrument be ten or twelve inches long, so as to prevent the paunch from slipping away from the canula and causing delay, and perhaps further danger. Chloride of Lime is valuable after the animal is somewhat relieved by the use of the trocar; about two drachms should be mixed with a quart of water. In case of immediate relief being imperative, and a trocar not being at hand, a long, sharp pointed pen-knife may be used for puncturing. The place for puncturing is midway between the hip and ribs, where the distended rumen is prominent; the direction is inward and downward. The puncture will be followed by an outrush of gas, fluid, and even portions of food. A quill, or some other tube, must be ready to be inserted in the hole immediately after the knife is withdrawn, otherwise the wound will close. If nothing tubular be at hand, a smooth piece of stick must be put in, or anything else that will serve the purpose of keeping open the wound till the gas has escaped. The danger of this operation is not from the wound itself, but from the escape of the contents of the paunch into the abdomen, which would cause peritonitis, or from piercing the spleen or kidney. The operation can only be regarded as a rough one, to be adopted in case of great emergency.
When distension has ceased and matters have to some extent resumed their ordinary course, the animal should remain some hours without food or water. The food afterwards should be sparing and suitable.
J. K., should be administered two or three times daily until the animal is fully recovered.