The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-06-17
Bloat in Cattle.

1.-THE following clipping is from the
current issue Of The Farm Journal.
that publication giving credit to A. $.
Alexander. NJ. ID. c. The clipping was
handed in by reader of the Banner
residing i'll Benton. who says 1t con-
.tains much good advice. and suggests
its publication in an early issue that
all residents of Bossier Parish might
have the benefit of it.-EditOr.l
DESPITE all that has been taught and
written on this Subject many cattle still
die of hlOat, or acute distention of the
rumen or paunch with gas. This is UNI
fortunate. for the disease may readily
be avoided in many cases and, when Il
case occurs. it need not prove fatal if
the owner or attendant knows what
to do.
COMMON CAUSES or RLOAT.
Sudden changes of feed and feed that
is in damaged or fermenting state are
common causes. But sudden excessive
eating of rank, wet green clover or al
falfa is by far the most common csluse
Alfalfa in bloom does not cause
bloat: but the sugar of red-clover hlOs-
SONS is most likely to cause it. Look
out for blOat cases On hot, damp muggy
days after big thunderstorm and
when the air is surcharged with cleo
tricity There are many cases on such
days. Make all changes of feed grad
| ua1ly and let all feed he sound.
SYMPTOMS OF BLOAT.
The EauIch or rumen fills two-thirtl;
| of the left side Of the abdomen. When
all animal is bloated the paunch be-
comes so distended that 1t may rise
| above the level of the backbone. The
affected COW lags. stops eating. looks
distressed, may .slobber. breathes hard
or gasI,s for air. and when about suffO-
Gated staggers and may fall and die
Urine and feces may be suppressed. hui
/ in some hot weather cases securing
may be present. In chronic cases the
cow comes up bloated at night and by
morning the distention has subsidized
Such cases rarely are acute. hut man.
of them are due to tuberculosis. and
for that reason the tuberculin test
should be applied by a veterinarian
Presence of foreign bodies in the sec
ond stomach also may cause frequen
bloating Of. a subacute form.
WHAT TO DO FOR BLOAT.
i Before giving medicine of any sort tt
a bloated COW. set her with the hind fee
low to prevent the distended pauncl
from pressing upon the diaphragm AM
interfering with breathing. Put Il rop
or round stick bitwise in her mouth
as that will prevent suffoc;ation. o
run her into cold water. or pour col,
water upon her body.
Other methods of relieving hlOat ar
to pull the tongue far out now an,
then, or place Il handful of salt o
hicarhonate Of soda far back on Til
tongue. or persistently rub the ABIDE
men ana give rectal injections of soap
warm water to, help move the bowel
and bring the gas away. Some owner
believe in running the COW, but W
think it best to keep her quiet.
Medicinal treatment consists In civ
ing two ounces of turpentine in pin
of raw lillseedoil or quart Of he,
milk; or. In very severe cases. If til
COW is large. some veterinarians Civ
! as much as four ounces each of arr
matte spirits of ammonia and turpeI
tine well diluted with oil or wate
; These heroic doses have been feun
wonderfully effective. A newer trea
ment is to give from one to three tabl,
spoonfuls Of formaldehyde well dilute
with new milk. Smaller doses may b
given In from One-half to one hour, q
seen to be necessary.
HOW TO TAP COW.
The term /" tapping means to II
sert a dagger-like instrument (trocar
sheathed in a metal tube (cannuIa)
the most distended part OF the paunc
high up In the left flank. close to I'll
last rib. just under the spine and
c front of the point OF the hip-bone. Tile
withdraw the trocar, leaving the chi
! nula to draw off the gas Clip the Ina.
: from the skin at the point to he tapped
q cut a little slit downward with sll;il
!. clean knife: insert the point of Il
trocar in the wound and then with
8 sharp blow Of the palm Of the haI
drive it and the cannula inward. 10
) ward and downward Now withdra
4 the trocar
Y When the gas has escaped return Il
: troc,tr and pull out both instrumen
together; then press the Hips of Il
wound together. apply little dist