Choke in the Horse. 



If there is a condition in veterinary practice in 

 which the veterinarian must demonstrate tact and 

 absolute control of the client (not the patient) this is 

 certainly the one. 



In all these cases the owner or attendant is to be 

 taken in hand firmly. Often times this requires as 

 much judgment on the part of the attending surgeon 

 as the treatment of the case in hand. Usually they 

 have heard of, or seen used, probangs, (buggy-whips, 

 broom handles, traces, and what-not in the form of 

 probangs) and they want an immediate demonstration 

 of similar tactics. They want to rub and massage the 

 neck, pour into the animal quantities of oil, and to do 

 a thousand and one other things. 



Ninety-five per cent of all chokes are really very 

 benign conditions when treated early. In many cases 

 it is the treatment administered that transforms the 

 case into a really grave one. I do not fear contra- 

 diction when I say that nearly all chokes would be 

 relieved spontaneously if the horse were at once placed 

 where he could get nothing whatever to eat but plenty 

 of water to suck up. In esophageal choke the water 

 taken is usually ''sucked" tentatively. 



The pathology of nearly all chokes is confined to 

 esophageal spasm. In exceptional cases a jabot or 

 more or less permanent dilatation may exist previously 

 and remain permanently. 



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