The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-05
For Cattle BlOat

With the approach of the season at which hloating of cattle frequently oc~ curs, the bureau of animal industry of the United States Department of Agriculture Calls attention to the principal causes of the trouble and also the means by which 1t may be avoided Many a COW has come to an untimely end because she be- came dissatisfied with the scanty feed to be gathered from the closely crop-fed pas ture, broke down the fence that surround ed field containing more luxuriant growth and stuffed herself with the lus- clous, stolen greens until she lost all de- sare for even another mouthful.
 Soon her troubles begin. Fermentation 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 accident is al most unknown. The pressure of the gas distended stomach, however, exerts a dangerous pressure upon the heart and lungs, with the result that animals dying from acute bloating usually die of strang- ulstion through inability to breathe with tleir compressed lung tissue
 The stock owner should guard against the bloating of his cattle by every pre- caution at his command. Clover or other green vegetation, if eaten when wet by
 
 to ferment before leaving the first stom- ach of the animal that has fed upon them eating excessive amounts of middlings or cornmeal will also cause bloating. It also occurs in cattle as a result of becom- ins choked. The principal cause, however, is overeating succulent green forage, such as clover, green corn or cabbage.
 To prevent bloating in cattle, the anil nlals should be shifted, by easy stages, from dry or scanty feed to abundant and luxuriantly growing fodder. They may be allowed to feed from the good for age for only three-quarters of an hour or the first day they are given access to such grazing. A full hour may be al lowed on the second day, and by con tinued slow steps and gradually length cred stay in the tempting feed the dan ger of loss from bloatng will be largely overcome.
 But in case the first evidence of too protracted stay in the heavy growth of forage should be that the owner mo- tioes one of his animals with sides dis tended, and perhaps even lifted above the level of the backbone, he must act quickly. Removal of the gas from the paunch will quickly bring relief If vet ernarian is within reach he should be summoned at once. If no surgeon IS available, the owner should immediately attempt to bring relief to his animal.
 Many cattle owners keep trocar and canula constantly on hand and thoroughly understand it's use. The trocar is sharp pointed rod provided with metallic sheath or canula which leaves the point os the trocar exposed. The spot 10 De selected for inserting the trocar is point equally distant from the last rib, inc hip bone and the lateral bony pro- jections from the spine in the region of the loins Here a small cut about three fourths of an inch long should be made through the skin with small knife, and then the trocar with canula attacheu may be pushed through the cut into the paunch The trocar is then removed, al lowing the gas to escape through the canl1la The canula should be retained Tn place so long as any gas escapes through it. Sometimes several hours are neces- sary, and the canula should be hrmly tleo 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 alarming condi- lions have ben removed by the use o1 tne frocar it is best to resort to lnlerndi medicine to allay the formation or gas Two ounces of aromatic spirits or am nonia in two quarts of cold water shouid he given every half hour, or half an ounce of chloride of lime dissolved In hint of tepid water may be given every half hour until the pressure Of the ploat- ing has been removed. A dose of purga- tive medicine is usually beneficial after the bloating has disappeared. For thls purpose one pound Of Glauper saltS Win usually prove effective.
 Care should be used in the adminlstra- tior of fluid medicines. Take time. DO not hold the cows head too high. Keeping the animals head raised, so that her nose is slightly higher than the level or her face, will allow her to swallow without ln- reference.