Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

DISTENSION OF THE RUMEN FROM FOOD.
DISTENSION OF THE RUMEN FROM FOOD.
Cattle, when first put on succulent grass or turnips, or when
suffered to gorge themselves with potatoes or grains,, or even with
chaff, will sometimes distend the rumen almost to bursting.
The history of the case will generally unfold the nature of it ; and
it will be distinguished from hoove by its not being attended by
occasional eructation, by the swelling not being so great as in hoove,
and by the hardness of the flanks.
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Should * any doubt, however,
remain, the probang should be passed into the rumen, when, if that
be distended with gas, a sudden and violent rush of the imprisoned
air will follow. The probang, however, should always be used, not
only to determine this point, but the degree to which the rumen is
distended by food.
When, although the animal may be dull, refusing to eat, and ceasing
to ruminate, generally lying down and showing great disinclination
to move, yet the pulse is not materially quickened, and the muscle is
cool and moist, and there is little heaving at the flanks, and no indi-
cation of pain, the practitioner may content himself with a free
bleeding and a powerful dose of physic. These symptoms, however,
are often treacherous, and, without warning, uneasiness, heaving,
stupor, and death may rapidly succeed.
In mild cases, stimulants may be resorted to with frequent advan-
tage. Ammonia, ether, aromatics, and spirits, have succeeded in
rousing the stomach to action, and establishing the process of rumination
; and that once established, there is little fear of the result ol
the case. These stimulants should, however, be always accompanied
by aperient medicines.
When, however, the symptoms are sudden dullness, uneasiness,
shifting of posture, moaning, swelling at the sides, the flank feeling
hard and not yielding to pressure ; when rumination ceases, and the
uneasiness and moaning increase, and the animal gradually becomes
unconscious, this will admit of no delay, and demands mechanical
relief; the introduction of the probang will ascertain the degree of
distension.
Should the probang enter a little way into the stomach, and the
operator be able to move it about, he will have proof that, although
the paunch is sufficiently distended to produce severe annoyance and
considerable danger to the animal, it is not stretched to the utmost
he may first try the effect of mild measures, and he will be especially
encouraged to attempt this if he finds that the food Is of a rather
light nature.
If the probang cannot be introduced at all into the rumen, or the
food eaten is heavy, as grains, or potatoes, or corn, the most judicious
plan will be to make an incision without delay through the left flank
into the rumen, and thus extract its contents.
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