288 EErORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



avoiding the teeth as much as possible, towards which it is 

 pushed by the animal's tongue ; and having fully ascertained 

 by one hand, that it has safely passed down into the gullet, it 

 should be gently pushed down to the obstruction, and then, 

 by firm steady pressure, forced down into the stomach. It 

 is here where the animal will evince his violence, therefore the 

 operator will do well to make choice of reliable men, who will 

 maintain their hold, as fatal injuries may arise as much from the 

 animal's violence as from the operation or obstruction. 



After relief has been obtained by the probang, I have found 

 on many occasions that symptoms such as gulping, eructation, 

 arching the neck with spasmodic muscular action, remains for 

 some time ; this is, doubtless, owing to the irritation set up by 

 the foreign body. They, however, gradually subside, and in a 

 few hours, the animal resumes his food. The after treatment 

 consists in allowing thin gruel, or hay tea for drinks, with light, 

 digestible food in small but repeated quantities. 



From a succession of these events, injury to the surrounding 

 parts is certain to result, as from a variety of causes, horses 

 sometimes become habitual chokers. The muscular portion of 

 the (Esophagus, from laceration or stretching with debility of 

 nervous power, admits of a pouch or sac being formed, in which 

 food is lodged and accumulates, and from inaction or feebleness 

 it cannot be well passed on to the stomach. Sometimes this 

 dilatation also occurs in the (Esophagus at the cardiac or anterior 

 portion of the stomach, when in addition to symptoms of chok- 

 ing, we have a regurgitation of food midway or higher up the 

 gullet, and passage downwards, and not unfrequently vomition. 

 These states are known by the name of Sacculous Dilatation of 

 the (Esophagus, or (Esophagus Ventriculosus of some writers. 



A grey horse which came under my observation recently, 

 having a sacculous state of the gullet, resulting from the above 

 causes, always after being brought to the stable from work, and 

 consumed his food, commenced with symptoms of choking, 

 which ended in perfect vomition, half a peck or more of injesta 

 being returned, mainly by the nostrils. During the premonitory 

 symptoms of vomition, the food passes regularly up and down 

 the gullet, from the point of obstruction towards the jaws ; at 

 length the stomach being filled to repletion by hurried acts, and 

 other causes developed, the phenomenon is fully and effectively 

 brought about.* 



The most effectual mode of dealing with such cases is to adopt 

 a regular system of feeding and watering, with moderate quan- 



* The animal here alluded to belonged to the Hetton Coal Company, near 

 Durham, and is now working well under the system advocated by my friend, Mr. 

 Luke Scott, M.E.C.V.S. 



