Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-16
Agricultural Help
BLOAT OF CATTLE.

Bloat of the paunch, or rumen, of
the COW would be less common, if
owners would remember to make no
sudden changes of feed and to refrain
from turning animals on clover or
Alfalfa pasture when wet with dew or
rain. There is also less tendency to
bloat when cattle are fed on dry hay
before allowing them to Craze rank
green growths, and If they are al
lowed free access to rock salt and an
abundance of pure, fresh water
, Bloatng is due to fermentation o,
feed which becomes yeasty in condi-
ton and gives off gas in large quanti-
ties. The pauneh, when greatly dis.
tended with feed and gas, becomes
paralyzed, losing it's natural muscu-
lar motion (peristalsis). Chewing of
the cud (rumination) ceases, and the
bowels do not move normally. The
animal may scour at first and then
become costive, or from the start of
the worst cases no action of the
bowels takes place. The bloating is
noticed high up on the left flank. In
the horse the right side is distended
when gas fills the colon. To prevent
bloating on alfalfa or clover it is
well to let the pastured cattle lick i
mixture of equal parts of salt and
slaked lime at will and to Craze but
short time when becoming accus-
toned to such feed.
Treatments and Remedies.
Cut green clover or alfalfa should
not be fed wet, but should be al
lowed to wilt before use. 1t is best
to cut supplies one day ahead. All
n
feed should be withheld from cattle.
If blpating is noticed. simple meas
ures of relief should first be tried.
Place apiece of fork handle or
broom stick bitwise in the cows
mouth, and keep 1t in place by cords
fastened To the horns or halter. This
gag" will prevent suffocation Anoth-
er good plan is To elevate the fore
quarters of the COW by building up
the stall floor. Cold water dashed
upon the abdomen is helpful. and
rectal injections of soapy warm water
and glycerine should be given once
an hour. Many simple remedies have
been suggested for bloat. An excel
lent one is an ounce or two of tur-
pentine shaken up in a pint of raw
linseed- or new milk A still bet
tNf iliAlutt rs tDlIipDSeQ vi one tRo
ounces of aromatic spirits of ann
monia, dram each of fluid extract of
nux vomiea and ginger root, and four
ounces of granular hyposulphite of
soda in a pint or so of water. II no
such remedies are at hand, half a
pint of whisky. and two teaspoonfuls
of essence of Jamaica ginger may be
administered in pint of strong cof-
fee Soda bicarbonate (baking .soda)
is commonly given, and sometimes is
mixed with sour milk. Such a mix
ture is apt to prove detrimental as
soda tends to effervesce on meeting
the acids of the stomach. and so may
aggravate bloatng.
In extreme cases the gas should be
withdrawn by passing a long, smooth,
oiled rubber hose down the outlet, or
tapping" the 6istenGed paunch at the
most prominent place. on the left
side. in the triangle between the point
of the hip, last rib and spinal column,
This is done by means of trocar
and cannula. made for the purpose.
and to be thrust inward, downward
and forward. Its timely use will pre-
vent suffocation. Remember that
chronic bloating often is due to tuber-
culosis, so that in such cases the
tuberculin test ehould he applied.
I'D DR.. A. S. Alexander.