162 THE HORSE. . 



digitalis These should be followed by blisters, to remove the inflammation, 

 if possible, from an internal and important part to the skin. The blisters 

 may at lirst be confined to the upper part of the throat, but, if unsuccessful 

 tliere, they should extend over the whole length of the windpipe. In extreme 

 cases, and where the obstruction seems to threaten suffocation, we may be 

 justified in cutting into the windpipe, and either introducing a tube into 

 the opening, or cutting out a portion of one of the rings. This operation, 

 however, the agriculturist will scarcely dare to perform, although it is 

 simple enough to him who understands the anatomy of the neck. It is 

 called hronchoiomy . By means of it, the animal will be enabled to breathe 

 through an aperture below the seat of inflammation, or the distorted and 

 obstructed part ; and time will be given for the adoption of other modes of 

 relief or cure. Some practitioners have talked of cutting into the wind- 

 pipe, to extract the band or ring of coagulated matter that obstructs the 

 passage ; we can only say, that if they happen to hit upon the precise situa- 

 tion of this ring or band, they will be more fortunate than their folly deserves. 

 Another circumstance should be mentioned, and the breeder should not 

 forget it, that the roarer, whether horse or mare, will often entail this disease 

 on its progeny. This entailment of disease by the parent on oflTspring is a 

 subject which has not suffiiciently engaged the attention, or entered into i^e 

 calculation, of the agriculturist. 



THE ESOPHAGUS, OR GULLET. 



The gullet extends from the back part of the mouth to the stomach, and 

 conveys the food from the one to the other. At the top of the neck, it is 

 immediately behind the windpipe, but it soon inclines to the left, and runs 

 down the neck close to the windpipe, and on its left ; therefore when we 

 give a ball to a horse, we watch the left side of the neck to see whether it 

 passes down the gullet. Having entered the chest between the first two 

 ribs, the gullet passes along the upper part of it, and then piercing the 

 diaphragm, or midriff, enters the stomach. It is composed of three coats 

 — the outer one of slight loose cellular substance : the middle one mus- 

 cular, and divided into two distinct layers, the outermost layer having 

 the fibres lengthways, by which the gullet may be shortened, and in 

 shortening, widened for the reception of the food ; the fibres of the inner 

 layer running circularly round the tube, so that the portion immediately 

 above a pellet of food, will by contraction force the food downward, and by 

 successive actions drive it into the stomach. The inner coat, which is a 

 continuation of the membrane of the pharynx, lies in folds or plaits, extend- 

 ing lengthways. The muscular coat being highly elastic, readily gives 

 way to the pressure of the food, and these plaits enable the inner or cuti- 

 cular coat, likewise sufficiently to dilate. 



The gullet has in a few cases been strictured, or contracted in some part, 

 so that the food could only be swallowed in small quantities, and with 

 great difficulty. If the stricture be near the entrance into the stomach, 

 there is no remedy, for the part cannot be got at. If it be higher up, a 

 veterinary surgeon alone can determine how far relief is practicable. Sub- 

 stances have sometimes stuck in the gullet. Bran and chaff swallowed 

 greedily, or in too large or hard a ball, having remained in some part of the 

 gullet, and caused very alarming symptoms. The tube used for the hove 

 in cattle, will sometimes dislodge this foreign substance: but should this 

 6e impracticable, the gullet must be opened, which a scientific practitioner 

 alone is competent to perform. 



