Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

316 CATTLE.
beyond the place of obstruction, and, by its action on them, pos-
sibly recall this viscus also to the discharge of its healthy function.
The Epsom salts, with half the usual quantity of ginger, will form
the best purgative ; and it should be administered either by means
of a small horn, or the pipe of the stomach-pump introduced half
way down the gullet, and the liquid very slowly pumped in. By
this cautious method of proceeding, the pillars of the oesophagean
canal will probably not be forced open, and the liquid will flow on
through the passage still partially open at the bottom of the many-
plus, and thence into the abomasum. Of the sympathetic influence
which the establishment of increased action of the intestines has on
the stomachs above in rousing them to their wonted function, mention
has already been made j. it is a fact of much importance, and should
never be forgotten by the practitioner.
A consideration of the nature of the disease will necessarily lead
to the next step. Either a great quantity of food is retained between
the leaves of the manyplus in a natural and softened state, or it is
powerfully compressed there, and has become dry and hard. Now
the longer leaves of this stomach reach from the roof almost or quite
to the base of it, and some of them float in the continuation of the
oesophagean canal through which all fluids pass in their way to the
fourth stomach. Then plenty of fluid should be made to flow
through this canal ; and this may readily be effected by the small
horn, or much better by the stomach-pump. Ah almost constant
current of warm water may thus be kept up through the canal, by
means of which the food retained towards the lower edge of the
leaves, and most obstinately retained there on account of the hook-
like form of the papillae, will be gradually softened and washed out.
This will leave room for the descent of more ; and the natural action
of this portion of the leaves being possibly re-established, when
freed from the weight and oppression of that by which they had
been filled, the mass that remains above will begin to be loosened ;
it will gradually descend and be softened by the stream, and it too
will be carried off: and so, in process of time, a great part of the
stomach will be emptied, and the manifolds will be so far relieved as
to^be able to renew its natural function.
Oil has been recommended for this purpose ; but the hardened food
wiU be more readily softened by warm water, than by any oil that
can be administered. Some portion of aperient salt should be dissolved
in the water, in order that purgation may be established as
soon as possible, or kept moderately up when it is established ; but
no heating, stimulating, tonic medicine, beyond the prescribed proportion
of aromatic to the purgative, should on any account be given,
for it is impossible to tell what inflammatory action may be going
forward in the manyplus, or to what degree the spasmodic contrac-
tion on its contents may be increased. No food should be allowed