The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-06-20

facilities under specified conditions
reciprocally applied.
CATTLE FLOATING CAUSED
BY EATING STOLEN GREENS
With the approach of the season at
which bloating of cattle frequently &C.
ours, the bureau of animal industry
of the United States department of
agriculture calls attention to the prin-
cipal causes of the trouble and also
the means by which it may be avoid
ed. Many a cow has come to an un-
timely end because she become dissat-
isfied with the scanty feed to be had
from the closely CROPPED pasture,
broke down a fence that surrounded
a more luxuriant growth, and stuffed
herself with the luscious stolen greens,
until she lost all desire for even an
other mouthful.
Soon her troubles begin. Fermen-
tation develops in the mass of corn or
clover, and gas forms that fills the
first stomach of the COW to it's utmost
capacity.
The danger to the animal from acute
bloating is not that the distended
stomach may rupture, for such an &C.
cident is almost unknown. The pres
sure Of the gas~-distended stomach,
however, exerts a dangerous pressure
upon the heart and lungs, with the re-
suit that anmilas dying from acute
bloating usually die of strangulation
through inability to breathe with their
compressed lung tissue.
The stock owner should guard
against the bloating of his cattle by
every precaution at his command.
Clover or other green vegetation, if
eaten when wet by dew or rain, seem
to be especially liable to ferment be-
fore leaving the first stomach of the
animal that has fed upon them. Eat
ing excessive amounts of middlings or
corn meal will also cause bloating.
1t also occurs in cattle as a result of
becoming choked. The principal
cause, however, is ~overeating succu-
lent green forage, such as clover,
green corn Or cabbage.
Change Feed Gradually.
To prevent bloating in cattle, the
animals should be shifted by easy sta
ges from dry or scanty feed to abun-
dant and %luxuriatnly growing fodder.
They may be allowed to feed from the
good forage for only three-quarters
of an hour on the first day they are
given access to such grazing. A full
hour may be allowed on the second
day, and by continued slow steps and
gradually heightened stay in the temp
ting feed, the danger of loss from
bloating will be largely overcome.
But in case the first evidence of a
too %protracted stay in the heavy
growth of forage should be that the
owner notices one of his animals with
sides %distended, and perhaps even lift
ed above the level of the backbone.
he must act quickly. Removal of the
gas from the paunch will quickly
bring relief. If a veterinarian is with
in reach he should be summoned at
once. If no surgeon is available the
owner should Immediately attempt to
bring relief to his animal.
Monx, oo%%11 ~ 1,1o~ ~o,-r
and canula constantly on hand and
thoroughly understand it's use. The
trocar is a sharp-pointed rod provid-
ed with a metallic sheath or canula
which leaves the point of the trocar
exposed. The spot to be selected for
inserting the trocar is a point equal
ly distant from the last rib, the hip
bone, and the lateral bony projections
from the spine in the region of the
loins. Here a small cut about three
fourth of an inch long with a small
knife, and then the trocar with canula
attach may be pushed through the cut
into the paunch. The trocar is then
removed, allowing the gas to escape
through the canula. The canula should
be retained in place so long as any
gas escapes through it. Sometimes
several hours are necessary, and the
canula should be firmly tied in place.
An attendant should remain near the
animal, if possible, so long as the
canula is in the paunch.
If the animal is not distressed by
the bloating and the swelling of the
body is not great, or when the alarm
ing conditions have been removed by
the use of the trocar, it is best to re-
sort to internal medicine to allay the
formation of gas. Two ounces of ar
omatic spirits of ammonia in 2 quarts
Of cold water should be given every
half hour, or half an ounce of chlor-
ide Of lime dissolved in a pint of tep-
id water may be given every half hour
until the pressure of the bloating has
been removed. A dose of purgative
medicine is usually beneficial after
the bloating has disappeared. For
this purpose l pound of Glauber'.
salts viii usually prove effective.