COMMON AILMENTS OF LIVE-STOCK AND THEIR TREATMENT.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4, 20 April 1928, Page 240

COMMON AILMENTS OF LIVE-STOCK AND THEIR TREATMENT.

J. Lyons,

M.R.C.V.S., Director of the Live-stock Division, Wellington.

In a country such as ours, where many of those engaged in the primary industries are of necessity compelled to settle in somewhat inaccessible districts, and where transport is not always' what could be desired, the lack -of veterinary advice and assistance is at times acutely felt, and there are occasions when the farmer must be at a loss to know what to do in order to save the life of a valuable animal. Under such circumstances he is tempted to act on any advice given, whether it is correct or not, and more often than otherwise the dumb animal. has to suffer. With a view to assisting settlers who find it difficult to obtain veterinary advice when required, the writer proposes to contribute to the Journal a series of notes on the common ailments of stock in this country, together with simple advice on their treatment. ' Incidentally it is hoped that such advice will help towards lessening suffering among the lower animals.

In order to be in a position to prescribe for ailments occurring among animals the practitioner must have a knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and also be acquainted with the action the medicines prescribed have on the animal. Without this knowledge one is more or less working in the dark, and much harm may be done, particularly in regard to medicine. It is amazing the faith many stockowners have in so - called remedies of which they are entirely ignorant. These remedies in some cases may result in neither good nor ill, while in others they may be actually, harmful; and yet owners will persist in using such preparations for their stock, oblivious of the fact that they do not know what the remedies contain or the action they have on the animal’s system. It is not intended to assert that all patent or proprietary medicines are harmful; many of them may serve a useful purpose. A word of warning is necessary, however, against those preparations which are advertised as specifics against diseases for which science has not yet discovered a remedy, and those for which the claim is made that they will cure all and every disease to which our live-stock is subject.

In connection with the first-mentioned category may be particularly mentioned the remedies guaranteed to cure abortion and mammitis in cattle which one sees advertised in many of our agricultural papers.

When the nature of these diseases is taken into consideration it is not difficult to understand how stockowners are deceived by agents selling such remedies. Abortion is due to an organism; and when once this gets into the system the cow becomes a carrier of the disease for life. This does not mean, however, that she will abort every time she gets in calf. She may do so for one or two seasons, after which she usually carries her calf the full time. Should an animal which has aborted be treated with one of the so-called remedies and carry her calf the full time the remedy gets the credit. The result would have been the same without treatment, and so a testimonial may be given where it is not merited. The same remarks may be applied .to mammitis, although in this disease the organism may not remain permanently in the system. - • '

If farmers would consult their veterinary surgeon or chemist, both of whom are better able to prescribe for their animals 'than the vendors of patent medicines, they would be better served at a much less cost. It would be pleasing to think that a warning such as this would have the desired effect. It is to be feared, however, that the individual with the ready tongue and plausible manner (whether by word or in advertisements) will too often continue to profit at the farmer’s expense.

Before proceeding to a description of the symptoms and treatment of the more common diseases the importance should be emphasized of good nursing on the part of the stockowner or attendant, without which the best efforts of the physician or'surgeon may be unavailing.

Tympany (Hoven) in Cattle.

Tympanites is purely a diate tic complaint, and is caused by the fermentation of food in the first stomach and generation of gases therefrom. It must not be inferred from this that all foodstuffs are given to fermentation. When undergoing the process of digestion it is only in certain classes of food that fermentation takes place, and then only when fed under certain conditions. It is a well-known fact that cows placed in. clover pastures or pastures containing a fair sprinkling of clover in the spring of the year— such pasture is succulent and damp—are apt to become blown ; whereas later in the season the same pasture, when it has lost much of its succulence and the weather is dry, may be fed with impunity. In a climate such as ours, where the conditions are practically always more or less damp during the early spring months, such pastures must be fed with discretion if accidents are- to be avoided and the best results obtained from the herd.

It is a common occurrence in many districts throughout New Zealand where clover is abundant for the cows in dairy herds to be in a more or less tympanitic state for weeks together, and mortality is not infrequent, more especially in damp weather. Under such conditions an adequate return cannot be expected from these herds. Much of the trouble could be avoided under a better system of animal husbandry. If the animals were kept overnight in a bare paddock or one which is free from clover, and given a quantity of good sweet hay (oaten hay for preference), so that the damp clover pastures were not taken on an empty stomach, the condition would be much less prevalent than at present, and it would also be found that an increased yield resulted. Although careful dieting will go far in eliminating

tympanites among our dairy herds, the complaint, under ordinary farming conditions, cannot be completely avoided at all times.

Treatment. — This will depend to a great extent on the severity of the case. In some instances, when the tympany is not of an acute nature, if the animal is given a few handfuls of good oaten hay or dry bran the swallowing of the material eaten sets up regurgitation, and the gas is expelled.

In the more acute cases the animal is so distressed that it will not partake of anything in the nature of food, and drenches. have to be administered. For this purpose nothing seems to answer better than a wineglassful of turpentine in a pint of raw linseed-oil. The mixture should be well shaken before administration. Hyposulphite of soda and tincture of ginger, 2 oz. of each given in a quart of water, will also be found beneficial. In very acute cases, where there is danger of suffocation through the distended stomach pressing on the lungs and the animal is in extremis, relief must be given quickly, otherwise fatal results will follow. In such cases the animal's stomach must be punctured and the gas allowed to escape, and for this purpose a trocar and cannula should be used. . The puncture should be made on the left side at the most prominent part, which will be found to be a few inches behind the last rib. While the puncture is being made the instrument should be held in a downward and forward direction, and when the puncture is completed the trocar should be withdrawn and the . gas allowed to escape . through the cannula. A long thin-bladed knife will also answer the purpose, but it is not so satisfactory, and should only, be used when the trocar is not available. When the stomach is tapped by the knife method the gas does not come away so freely. This is due to the fact that as the gas escapes from the stomach the organ recedes. The opening in the walls of the stomach is thus dragged away from the opening in the abdominal wall, which prevents the escape of gas. After a severe case of tympany it is always advisable to give the animal a dose of physic. A good prescription is f lb. to 1 lb. of Epsom salts (according to the size of the animal) to which 2 tablespoonfuls of ground ginger have been added, the whole to be mixed in 3 pints of warm gruel or water and administered, after which the animal should be kept short of food for a few. days. If this precaution is not taken, impaction of the stomach is liable to follow on account of the distortion to which it has been subjected. Although clover pasture when fed in a wet or damp condition is by far the most frequent cause of tympany, this is by no. means the only cause. There are other feeds which are also dangerous ;. in fact, any sudden change in feeding is also a causative factor. Turnips, green oats, ensilage, and brewer’s grains are all liable under certain conditions to cause the complaint. Special care should be taken when feeding soft white , turnips in damp weather.

Impaction of the Rumen (First Stomach).

This complaint is frequently seen as a sequel to tympany, or it may occur independently. It is caused by overloading the stomach with food.

Symptoms. — The animal is disinclined to move, and will often emit a peculiar grunt. The movements are more or less stiff, the head is

extended, and the back slightly arched, while if the stomach is pressed just behind the last rib a more or less doughy feeling will be in evidence, showing that the walls of the organ have lost their tone and have become paralysed. The appetite goes off and rumination is suspended, and if the animal is in milk the secretion for the time being is considerably diminished. Diarrhoea is a frequent symptom at the outset of the complaint, but this is of short duration, and gives place to entire stoppage of the bowel.

Treatment. — A good dose of purgative medicine is indicated in order to relieve the overloaded stomach, and for this purpose nothing answers better than 16 oz. of Epsom salts to which 2 oz. of ground ginger has been added. The whole should be dissolved in 3 pints of thin oatmeal gruel, and given as a drench. If at the end of twenty-four hours the medicine has not acted, it should be followed up with one-quarter of the ordinary dose, to be given every four to six hours until four doses have been administered. It must be remembered that in this complaint the walls of the stomach are inactive and have’ ceased to function, and that for treatment too much purgative medicine should not be used, as it only weakens and lowers the vitality of the patient. When purgative medicines fail to have the desired effect, much better results will be obtained from stimulants and tonics, and more particularly nerve tonics. . From 2 to 4 drams of mix vomica to which 1 oz. of ground ginger has been added, and the whole dissolved in a pint of warm gruel, should be given three or four times a day. Meanwhile the animal should be kept ,in a sheltered place, and care taken that it is not subjected to extremes of temperature.

The opportunity may be here taken to give a general warning against the use of repeated doses of purgative medicine when treating cattle for digestive troubles. If such heroic treatment is practised it will be found that the end in view has not been accomplished, and that the resisting-powers of the animal have been weakened to such an extent that recovery is almost impossible. If after the administration of one or two full doses of purgative it is found that the desired result has not been obtained, it is useless and even dangerous to continue such a line of treatment. As already indicated, much better results will be obtained by substituting tonics and stimulants, combined, if necessary, with smaller doses of purgative.

Choking in Cattle.

This trouble is caused by a foreign body, such as a piece of turnip, apple, &c., lodging in the gullet. It causes considerable inconvenience to the animal, and may even cause death if the obstruction is not removed.

Symptoms. The patient is very uneasy, ' breathes hurriedly, and coughs, and saliva is seen hanging from the jaws owing to the natural gases being unable to escape from the stomach. Tympany is frequently present, and the obstruction may be seen or felt in the gullet. In the majority of cases of choking it will be found that the . obstruction has lodged in the upper third of the gullet. Under such conditions its removal is a more simple operation, and attended with less danger to the animal, than if the object had travelled farther towards the stomach before becoming fixed.

- Treatment.— For the removal of such an obstruction the animal should be secured by an attendant, and the ■ operator should then insert his hand and arm down the beast’s throat until it reaches the obstacle, which can be grasped and removed. Meanwhile the obstruction' should be pushed upwards and held in position from outside, by a second attendant.

' The dislodging of an'obstacle which has settled beyond the reach of the operator’s arm is a matter attended with considerable difficulty, and frequently with serious consequences to the animal unless the greatest care is exercised by the operator. In this case the obstruction cannot be removed through the mouth. Instead it has to be forced down the gullet until the stomach is reached: For this purpose a probang should be used, the instrument being inserted through the mouth into the gullet until the obstruction is reached and by gentle persuasion dislodged from its position. In. such cases the operator should always be careful not to use undue force, • otherwise there is danger of rupturing the organ.- To avoid this, when the obstruction is reached, the instrument should be withdrawn a few inches, and then quickly and without too much force be brought on the obstruction again; in fact, the obstacle should only be tapped. This in the majority of cases will dislodge the ■ obstacle from its position, and when thus moved ; it ' will be found that the muscular action of the gullet carries it into the stomach. It is advisable, however, that the instrument be made -to follow the obstruction into the stomach, so as to make sure that the purpose has been accomplished. At the same time the gases lodged in the stomach are able to escape through the probang.

" It is seldom that a probang is kept for use on the ordinary farm. The writer; however, has been successful with a length of fairly flexible hose-pipe with the operating end smoothed and hollowed out. The success of the operation depends on knowing how much force to use without rupturing the gullet. Should the latter circumstance unfortunately occur during the operation, blood will invariably appear on the instrument. When 'it is withdrawn a further swelling will appear around the animal’s shoulders, and when pressed the part will have a feeling as if the hand were in contact with stiff paper. This is due to the gases in : the stomach passing - through the rupture in the gullet and lodging underneath the skin. Under such circumstances the case is not worth persevering with, and the animal should be destroyed.

In cases of choking, more particularly if the case has been a prolonged one, the animal .should be kept on a light and easily masticated diet for a few. days after the operation, so that the soreness may disappear from the throat. ■ ’ -Otherwise the trouble is liable to recur. Further, if tympany is present a light dose of physic is indicated. ... 1 ‘ '

(To be continued.)

■ ■ British' Phosphate Commission’s Business.- For the year ended 30th June, 1927,..the production of-phosphates at Nauru and Ocean Islands, amounted to 594,825 tons, , and sales by the" Commission realized, a total of £780,000.. The Commission's assets were 'valued at £3,730,000. Liabilities included £1,440,000 owing : to the British Government, ' the same amount to the Australian Commonwealth, and £548,704 to New Zealand.