INDIGESTION.
Cause.—Animals with a voracious appetite will overload their stomachs with food that is hard to digest or is decomposed, causing the organs of assimilation to become weakened, sluggish and incapable of doing their proper work.
Symptoms.—The animal ceases to ruminate (chew its cud); stands quietly, hair rough, nose dry, temperature elevated one to two degrees, breathing usually faster than normal with slight grunts at each expiration of air from the lungs. The secretions of milk are suddenly diminished. If the hand is placed against the left side and quickly removed, a marked depression or pit will remain, which shows that the paunch is full of undigested food. Bloating is also frequently accompanied by indigestion.
Treatment.—Administer Aloin, three drams; Ginger, three drams. Place in capsule and give with capsule gun. Permit the animal to drink all the water possible. If bloating is present give two-ounce capsules filled with Turpentine with capsule gun. A tonic is quite necessary in this condition, and the following I am sure will be followed by good results if the case is not of too long a standing: Sodium Bicarbonate, eight ounces; Pulv. Nux Vomica, four ounces; Pulv. Gentian Root, four ounces; Pulv. Ginger, four ounces. Place two tablespoonfuls in gelatin capsule and give with capsule gun every six hours. Very good results are also obtained from rectal injections of soap and warm water. Feed good nourishing food sparingly, compelling the animal to exercise, etc.