In obstinate cases, and in the absence of indications of gastric or cerebral congestion the addition of 20 croton beans or 20 drops of croton oil will be excellent. Nux vomica (½ drachm) is also of value in rousing the torpid nervous action. Injections are always in order, and it is recommended to use these cold so as to rouse the muscular action of the intestine and stomach.
Some of the newer remedies which rouse the contractility of the digestive organs and at the same time stimulate secretion serve an excellent purpose in these cases. Eserine 1½ grain, veratrine 1 grain, barium chloride 10 to 15 grains, or pilocarpin 3 grains may be given hypodermically in addition to the usual purgative. The pilocarpin is theoretically the best as its tendency is to cause free secretion from all mucous surfaces, and even a slight secretion from the omasal folds will greatly favor detachment and discharge of the impacted plates. These as well as the stimulants may be repeated as the effects pass off. The purgatives on the other hand should be given at first in a large dose, and not repeated except under the stress of necessity as their constant repetition in small doses seems to nauseate the animal and even to retard action. In the case of profuse secretion from the kidneys however it may be supposed that the saline agents have passed off in that way and a purgative may be safely repeated. It may be well however to use one which is less likely to stimulate the kidney, such as castor, olive, or raw linseed oil or senna.
The patient may be several days or even a week without alvine discharge and yet do well. If there are fever and other indications of gastric congestion a blister to the right hypochondrium may be of value. Rub well with oil of turpentine and then with a pulp of the best ground mustard and tepid or cold water and cover with sheets of thick paper to prevent evaporation.
If nervous, symptoms are manifested by dilated pupils, blindness, congested conjunctiva, hot horns and ears, and drowsiness, or excitability apply cold water or an icebag to the head and continue as long as may be needful. If the patient should become violently delirious he may be fastened to a beam overhead in the centre of the stall so as to prevent him from injuring himself or others.
In these cases the more violent and irritant purgatives are to be avoided, and decoctions of slippery elm, linseed or gum may be given to sheathe and protect the irritated membrane.
Even though a free action of the bowels has been secured it is not to be assumed that all impacted material has been removed. A specially laxative diet of roots, ensilage, or succulent green food, with a liberal supply of salt, and free access to water should be kept up for some weeks to secure a complete softening and expulsion of the impacted material. Repeated small doses of laxative medicine may be requisite to bring this about. As a rule a course of tonics, and above all of nux vomica is valuable in re-establishing the normal tone of the stomachs and intestines.
INFLAMMATION OF THE OMASUM.
Involved in rinderpest, Texas fever, malignant catarrh, etc. Diphtheritis, Tuberculosis, Irritant poisons, Traumatisms, Impactions, change to green food, etc. Lesions: Congestion, ramified redness, petechiæ, desquamation, softening, necrosis, false membranes, ulcerations, pigmentation, papillary growths, impaction. Symptoms: those of impaction with fever. Course, Treatment: demulcents, laxatives, blisters, bismuth, eserine, veratrine, pilocarpin, electricity, careful diet.
Like the rumen the omasum is the seat of local inflammatory lesions in certain specific fevers. Thus in Rinderpest, and Texas fever it is almost always the seat of patches of congestion and blood extravasation, and in the latter of necrosis and perforation of the folds. Similar lesions sometimes appear in malignant catarrh and anthrax. Dieckerhoff describes exudates, ulcerations and even perforations in pseudo-diphtheritis, and Brückmüller, congestions and ecchymoses in connection with a cutaneous rash. Tuberculosis of the organ is somewhat rare and is held to be due to the swallowing of bronchial secretions in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Cases of primary inflammation are rare, in keeping with the soft finely divided condition in which the food reaches the organ. It may, however, occur in case of the ingestion of arsenic and other irritant poisons, or of goring, kicks and other injuries on the right hypochondrium, or from the irritation attendant on impaction, or again from the stimulus of a sudden change to rich green food.