Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swine

by G. Moussu; Jno. A. W. Dollar

The prognosis varies, according to the rapidity with which the disease develops. In rapid cases, where the condition is fully established in thirty minutes to one hour, asphyxia may be threatened from the beginning; but in others, e.g., when the attack follows consumption of dry food, tympanites may develop slowly, only attaining its maximum intensity after a considerable lapse of time. In general one may say that tympanites is grave in proportion to the rapidity with which the gas is generated.

Treatment. From the prophylactic point of view, it is necessary to avoid suddenly changing animals from dry to green food; the transition should be effected by giving mixtures of dry and green food.

Curative treatment comprises a large number of methods.

The latest, and one of the most practical, consists in massage of the left flank. The open hand is applied to the left flank and sharply pressed directly downwards, care being taken not to injure the parts. This manipulation excites reflex action, awakens the dormant contractility of the rumen, and leads to restoration of peristaltic movement. The gases pass into the omasum and abomasum, or in many cases make their way into the œsophagus. The sudden impulses sometimes cause food to be returned into the mouth, eructation recommences, and the gas accumulated in the rumen is partially and progressively evacuated. This manipulation is often practised in breeding districts, particularly in the case of sheep, in which the disease occurs with the same characters. The shepherd fixes the animal between his legs, and, thrusting the extended fingers of either hand into the flanks, makes sudden, sharp movements, which again set up eructation and get rid of the excess of gas.

In Germany cold douches are often applied to the flanks. These excite vaso-motor action and reflex peristaltic movements, which result in eructations and in the evacuation of the rumen. But this is not a very practical method, and necessitates arrangements which seldom exist on sheep farms.

The action of massage may be completed by administering stimulants like wine, alcohol, or infusions of such aromatic plants as cummin, fennel, peppermint, camomile, etc. These act first of all mechanically, by clearing the terminal portion of the œsophagus. Furthermore, they stimulate the mucous membrane of the rumen, causing reflex peristaltic contractions, and, as a consequence, circulation of the partly digested food; finally, the majority of them arrest fermentation.

With the latter object, ether and assafœtida are also given. The use of these drugs, however, entails disadvantages, and if the animal has finally to be slaughtered renders the flesh unfit for consumption.

The giving of absorbents is probably most widely practised. The ammonia which many of them contain absorbs carbonic acid, thereby diminishing the pressure of gas contained in the rumen, and therefore the distension of the first gastric reservoirs. Unfortunately this action is only temporary, and if the drug is given in too concentrated a form, the mucous membrane of the mouth, of the œsophagus, and sometimes even of the rumen and reticulum, may be irritated and inflamed, producing lesions of stomatitis, pharyngitis, œsophagitis, contraction of the œsophagus, etc., which after recovery from the acute condition may gravely affect the animal’s general health. A further drawback is that the flesh rapidly acquires an ammoniacal odour.

Perhaps the best internal treatment consists in administering purgatives such as hyposulphite or sulphate of soda or sulphate of magnesia, in doses of 10 to 20 ounces, according to the animal’s size, or, in the case of pregnant animals, in small frequently repeated doses. These check fermentation, and so arrest the evolution of gas, whilst by their purgative properties they excite contraction of the gastric reservoirs and cause eructation.

None of these methods of treatment, therefore, should be used exclusively, but all may be utilised as auxiliaries to mechanical or surgical measures, and all should be preceded by the use of the probang and puncture of the rumen.