CHOKE IN THE OX 67 



move the objection, if a piece of vegetable, in sections 

 with forceps. 



If this cannot be accomplished after a few trials, 

 the incision into the esophagus is enlarged and the 

 object removed en masse with forceps or with the 

 fingers. Usually it requires a considerable amount 

 of force to extract the object and one can readily ap- 

 preciate why it is so difficult to dislodge these objects 

 by means of the probang. 



When the body has been removed the surgeon 

 usually proceeds along lines which previous experi- 

 ence, has taught him. In my early experience, I took 

 pains in approximating the edges of the esophageal 

 incision. Today, I do not suture the esophagus at all. 

 It has been my experience that healing comes just as 

 quickly and just as thoroughly without sutures of 

 any kind excepting a continuous suture through the 

 muscle and skin. With the best judgment in suturing 

 the esophagus, some food always comes through the 

 incision for a week or ten days. 



After the muscle has been closed by suture, the 

 after treatment is confined to daily application of an 

 antiseptic solution. This should be applied with a 

 syringe held a considerable distance from the wound 

 so that the solution merely bathes the external sur- 

 face ; possibly a small amount of it entering interstices 

 between the suture. 



The cow should be fed nothing but very thin slops 

 and water as long as any particles of food escape 

 through the wound, usually for about ten days or two 

 weeks. 



