Causes: excess of water—ice cold, or after privation. Symptoms: colicy
pains, local perspirations, right flank gurgling, diarrhœa, arched
back, anorexia, or nervous symptoms. Prevention: Treatment:
stimulants, carminatives, exercise, electricity, friction, stimulants
of peristalsis.
This has been observed as the result of ingestion of an excess of water,
and especially ice cold water, by work oxen, or overdriven animals which
have been long exposed to the heat of the sun and subjected to violent
exertions without drink. The habit of allowing water only at long
intervals, though it is being abundantly eliminated not only by kidneys
and bowels, but also by the accelerated breathing and the sudation,
causes consuming thirst, and when brought to the drinking place, the
subject drinks inordinately before eating. Much of this liquid is passed
at once into the abomasum, which with a capacity of 20 to 25 quarts,
becomes overdistended and irritated. Much of the water passes speedily
into the bowels, rousing these also into unwonted action. The sudden
distension appears to cause spasmodic contractions of the abomasum,
which are aggravated if the liquid is cold, and a violent though
transient suffering is induced.
_Symptoms._ These appear suddenly after the drinking of the cold water
and consist in the most violent colicy pains, twisting of the tail,
kicking at the belly, lying down and rising at short intervals, moaning,
looking at the flanks, anxious countenance, and the breaking out of
perspirations around the ears, on the neck or belly. There is no tympany
of the rumen but there are some fullness and active gurgling on the
right side of the abdomen. The attack does not usually exceed one or two
hours in length, and a profuse diarrhœa brings relief, the alvine
discharges being very watery with considerable mucus and some undigested
food principles.
In exceptional cases it has lasted for six hours and even in the more
transient cases, there is liable to remain for a time dullness and
prostration, advancing of the hind legs under the body, anorexia and
suspended rumination. Cruzel records two cases in which the small
intestine was ruptured as the result of too vigorous driving of the
patients. Other cases have perished from the coexistent diarrhœa.
Nervous symptoms also may appear as in other gastric disorders. The
usual result is recovery after a very transient illness. This short and
favorable course, and the evidence of cause and symptoms sufficiently
identify the disease.
_Treatment._ Prevention should be sought by avoidance of cold water in
excess, when the animal is heated, fatigued and thirsty. A little food,
an occasional mouthful of water, or a drink of warm water and meal will
act prophylactically. When the animal is attacked alcoholic drinks,
ammonia, carminatives (pepper, ginger, fennel, caraway, peppermint,
chamomile) or even strong tea or coffee may be used to advantage.
Careful walking exercise is also useful with friction to the abdomen, or
the use of electricity. Cadeac advises stimulants of the
peristalsis—eserine, veratrine or pilocarpin subcutem; senna,
podophyllin, or castor oil by the mouth.