Causes: Symptoms: Moping apart, inappetence, tympany, hard masses in
rumen, constipation, colics, straining, stretching, fever, no rumbling
nor defecation, diarrhœa, critical, or exhaustive. Treatment:
Laxative, antiseptic, counter-irritant, demulcent antiseptic
injections, in diarrhœa antiseptics, carminatives, bitters, diet, well
boiled farinas.
_Causes._ These are unknown apart from those given for the ox.
_Symptoms._ Moping alone in place of following the flock, inappetence,
suspended rumination, tympany, hard masses in the rumen, cold ears,
horns and limbs, obstinate constipation, weary movements of the hind
limbs, lying down and rising, looking at the flanks, and tenderness of
the right side of the abdomen, frequent straining, stretching,
hyperthermia, rapid pulse, and suppression of movement and rumbling in
the bowels are prominent symptoms. The constipation may be followed by
diarrhœa, which may presage recovery or hasten death, the symptoms of
improvement or aggravation indicating which. The diarrhœa may be simply
serous or mucopurulent and inoffensive or it may be black, bloodstained
and fœtid. It may cause extensive losses, with pathological changes as
in the ox.
_Treatment_ in the early stages with inactive bowels, must be laxative
and antiseptic, sodic sulphate 4 ounces with 1 drachm chloral hydrate in
a quart of warm water will serve to largely expel offensive ingesta and
bacterial ferments and pave the way for recovery. A counter-irritant of
aqua ammonia to the abdomen, under the wool, will have a good effect,
and soapy or mucilaginous and antiseptic injections are desirable.
If the bowels are already acting freely, ½ drachm each of boracic acid
and nitrate of bismuth may be given at least thrice daily, with the
addition of 60 drops of laudanum, and antiseptics (salol, naphthol,
naphthaline). Carminatives like chamomile, anise, cardamons, peppermint
may be added, and bitters such as quinia or nux vomica.
Well boiled gruels of barley, oats, linseed, or rye should be given and
little or no solid food until appetite and digestion have been restored.