LIVESTOCK AILMENTS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 245, 12 July 1928, Page 3

LIVESTOCK AILMENTS.

THEIR TREATMENT. (I. Lyons, M.R.C.V.S., Director of the Live Stock Division, in the Journal of Agriculture) (Continued) No. 11. Impaction of the Rumen (First Stomach). This complaint is frequently seen as a sequel to tympany, or it may occur independently. It is caused by overloading the stomach with food. Symptoms.—The animal is disinclined to move, and will often emit a peculiar grunt. The movements are more or less stiff, the head is extended, and the back slightly arched, while if the stomach is pressed just behind the last rib a more or less “ doughy ” feeling will be in evidence, showing that the walls of the organ have lost their tone and have become paralysed. The appetite goes off and rumination is suspended, and if the animal is in milk the secretion for the time being is considerably diminished. Diarrhoea is a frequent symptom at the outset of the com- i plaint, but this is of short duration, and gives place to entire stoppage of the bowel.

Treatment.—A good dose of purgative medicine is indicated in order to relieve the overloaded stomach, and for this purpose nothing answers better than lßoz of Epsom salts to which 2oz of ground ginger has been added. The whole should be dissolved in three pints of thin oatmeal gruel, and given as a drench. If at the end of twenty-four hours the medicine has not acted, it should be followed up with one-quarter of the ordinary dose, to be given every four to six hours until four doses have been administered. It must be remembered that in this complaint the walls of the stomach are inactive and have

ceased to function, and that for treatment too much purgative medicine should not be used, as it only weakens and lowers the vitality of the patient. When purgative medicines fail to have the desired effect, much better results will be obtained from stimulants and tonics, and more particularly nerve tonics. From two to four drams of nux vomica to which 7oz of ground ginger has been added, and the whole dissolved in a pint of warm gruel, should be'given three or four times a day. Meanwhile the animal should be kept in a sheltered place, and care taken t]raM£t is not subjected to temperature. The opportunity may be here taken to give a general warning against the use of repeated doses of .purgative medicine when treating cattle for digestive troubles. If such heroic treatment is practised it will be found that the end in view has not been accomplished, and that the resisting powers of the animal have been weakened to such an extent that recovery is almost impossible. If after the administration of one or two full doses of purgative it is found that the desired result has not been obtained, it is useless and even dangerous to continue such a line of treatment. As already indicated, much better results will be obtained by substituting tonics and stimulants, combined, if necessary, with smaller doses of purgative.

Choking in Cattle. This trouble is caused by a foreign body, such as a piece of turnip, apple, etc., lodging in the gullet. It causes considerable inconvenience to the animal, and may even cause death if the obstruction is not removed. Symptoms.—The patient is very uneasy, breathes hurriedly, and coughs, and saliva is seen hanging the jaws owing to the natural gases being unable to escape from the stomach. Tympany is frequently present, and the obstruction may be seen or felt in the gullet. In the majority of cases of choking it will be found that the obstruction has lodged in the upper third of the gullet. Under such conditions its removal is a more simple operation, and attended with less danger to the animal, than if the object had travelled farther towards the stomach before becoming fixed. Treatment.—For the removal of such an obstruction the animal should be secured by an attendant, and the operator should then insert his hand and arm down the beast’s throat until it reaches the obstacle, which can be grasped and removed. Meanwhile the obstruction should be pushed upwards and held in position from outside by a second attendant. The dislodging of an obstacle which has settled beyond the reach of

| the operator’s arm is a matter atj tended with considerable difficulty, and frequently with serious consequences to the animal unless the greatest care is exercised by the operator. In this case the obstruction cannot be removed through the mouth. Instead it has to be forced down the gullet until the stomach is reached. For this purpose a probang should be used, the instrument being inserted through the mouth into the gullet until the obstruction is reached and by gentle persuasion dislodged from its position. In such cases the operator should always be careful not to use undue force, otherwise there is danger of rupturing the organ. To avoid this, when the obstruction is reached, the instrument should be withdrawn a few inches, and then quickly and without too much force be brought to the obstruction again; in fact, the obstacle should only be tapped. This in the majority of cases will dislodge the obstacle from its position, and when thus moved it will be found that the muscular action of the gullet carries it into the stomach. It is advisable, however, that the instrument be made to follow the obstruction into the stomach, so as to make sure that the purpose has been accomplished. At the same time the gases lodged in the stomach are able to escape through the probang. It is seldom that a probang is kept for use on the ordinary farm. The writer, however, has been successful with a length of fairly flexible hosepipe with the operating end smoothed and hollowed out. The success of the operation depends on knowing how much force to use without rupturing the gullet. Should the latter circumstance unfortunately occur during the operation blood will invariably appear on the instrument. When it is withdrawn a further swelling will appear around the animal’s shoulders, and when pressed the part will have a feeling as if the hand were in contact with stiff paper. This 1 is due to the gases in the stomach passing through the rupture in the gullet and lodging underneath the skin. Under such circumstances the case is not worth persevering with, and the animal should be destroyed. In cases of choking, more particularly if the case has been a prolonged one, the animal should be kept on a light and easily masticated diet for a few days after the operation, so that the soreness may disappear from the throat. Otherwise the trouble is liable to recur. Further, if tympany is present a light dose of physic is indicated. (To be continued).