60 DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 



mouth is abundant, and there may be coughing. If the animal 

 attempts to drink, the water runs out through his nose. In cat- 

 tle, there is always more or less bloating (accumulation of gas in 

 the stomach). If the substance is in the throat, or lodged in the 

 gullet between the throat and breast, it can generally be plainly 

 felt from the outside. After the object has been lodged in the 

 gullet for one or two days, swelling and inflammation sets in and 

 causes great pain to the animal. 



Treatment. If the obstruction is in the throat, it may be 

 worked out by pressing and kneading at it from the outside; or it 

 may be removed with the hand, by passing it into the mouth; the 

 latter being held open by the mouth speculum. If it is below 

 the throat, a probang (Fig. 11) may be used to gently force 



Fig. 11. Probang, used in choking, in horses and cattle. 



it on into the stomach. The probang is a pliable leather tube, 

 six feet long, with a knob on the end to press on the object. The 

 probang is also hollow, through which a little oil can be poured 

 for the purpose of softening the object and making it more 

 easily moved. In place of a probang, a pliable whalebone whip 

 may be used. Never run a broom-,stick or hoe-handle down an 

 animal's throat, for you will surely injure the gullet and kill the 

 animal. A gag or speculum can be put on the animal to keep 

 it from biting the probang. If taken in time, the probang, 

 properly used, will generally relieve the animal in a few minutes; 

 but, if let go until the gullet becomes swollen and inflamed, it is 

 often a very difficult job to unchoke the animal. In cattle, you 

 can iet out the gas through the hollow probang by letting it re- 

 main in the stomach for a minute or two after the obstruction is 

 removed. A probang is something that every town or community 

 ought to have for the benefit of the public, where there is no 



