Traumatic reticulitis, the comet naso-reticular instrument for withdrawal of foreign bodies from the reticulum of cattle.

A new idea of a long-acting magnetic probe is presented and tested. The magnetic probe has been designed to remain for a period of time in the reticulum before it is retracted with the foreign bodies adhering to it. The instrument is fixed by a wire passing through the nose, pharynx and oesophagus. No adverse effects on the animal have been observed, and the animal can eat during the treatment. The examination showed that the instrument attracted nearly all the free foreign bodies and the superficially penetrating bodies, resulting in therapeutically good results in 50-55 per cent of the cases examined. The instrument has proved to be capable of attracting as many as 21 foreign bodies at the same time. As a preventive tool, it may be recommended to be used 2-3 times a year. Or it may be used for emptying the reticulum of foreign bodies prior to the application of a permanent magnet.