Causes: Debility, hard, fibrous food, dry winter feeding, privation of
water, astringents, smut, ergot. Symptoms: Hard, moulded, coated dung,
blood-streaked, and in small quantity, tympany, dullness, debility,
splashing sound when right flank is pressed, rectal exploration.
Treatment: Laxative food, water, salt, strychnia, eserine, barium
chloride, enemata, oils.
This is not a common affection in cattle, yet it does occur in weak and
debilitated conditions, and in animals fed on fibrous and innutritious
aliments. The ingesta are delayed in the gut, their liquid portion
absorbed and the remainder accumulates in a hard mass, which distends
and weakens the bowel. Dry winter feeding, with a scarcity of water
strongly contributes to its production. Astringent plants in the hay, or
smut or ergot may add to the tendency.
_Symptoms._ The fæces are hard and firm, glazed on the surface, coated
with mucus and sometimes stained with blood. They are passed in small
quantity and with much effort and straining, and finally the bowels
become completely blocked, nothing whatever being passed. Tympany of the
rumen now appears, especially after feeding, appetite and rumination
fail, there is much dullness, debility, and loss of flesh and unless
relieved, the animal dies in marasmus. Pressure on the right side of the
abdomen made suddenly and forcibly produces a sound of liquid splashing
in an air space, derived apparently from the accumulation above the
obstruction. The oiled hand introduced into the rectum may feel the
solid impaction, but in any case causes pain and moaning when the seat
of the impaction is pressed upon.
_Treatment._ In the milder cases and earlier stages a change to sloppy
food, green food, or boiled flaxseed, with plenty of salt, free access
to water, and scruple doses of nux vomica may prove successful.
In the more advanced conditions with complete obstruction, give ½ lb. to
1 lb. each of sodium chloride, and sodic sulphate, and ½ dr. nux vomica,
inject hypodermically 3 grs. eserine or 7 grains barium chloride, give
water _ad libitum_, and frequent and large injections of soapsuds. If
these latter are given cold they will still further stimulate the
missing peristalsis. In obstinate cases a second dose of the salts, or 1
quart of castor oil may be given with the addition of 20 drops of croton
oil.
When relief has been obtained, a laxative and nutritive diet and a
course of bitters should follow.