606 DISEASES OF THE CESOPHAGUS. 



have in some instances seemed connected with the occurrence 

 of this disturbance. 



Symptoms. — These are only exhibited when food, chiefly of a 

 sohd character, more rarely liquids, is being swallowed. When 

 the ingesta has travelled so far along the tube the spasms 

 develop ; and if the material is not ejected immediately, it is 

 in a short time thrown up. Occasionally it is simply arrested, 

 the spasm not being sufficiently powerful to cause ejection ; in 

 siich instances after a short period it will be passed quietly 

 along. 



On the occurrence of spasm the animal seems to feel pain ; 

 there is little, or more probably in the greater number, and the 

 more active cases, no swelling ; the neck is bent in a downward 

 direction, the nose pointing to the sternum ; the muscles of the 

 oesophageal region seem in active contraction ; there are various 

 muscular movements of an uncertain character, an extra spas- 

 modic effort, sometimes opening of the mouth, and ejection, 

 chiefly through the nasal openings, of the lately swallowed 

 material, mingled with mucus, or slightly tinged with blood. 



When not at once ejected or passed on, but retained until 

 an accumulation occurs, swelling is a distinct symptom, gradu- 

 ally increasing in an upward direction, and slightly painful 

 when pressed upon. Regurgitation in these instances may 

 take place with a trifling amount of spasm, less apparently than 

 in the acute cases, where a smaller amount of food seems to 

 excite the involuntary action. 



Treatment. — As we are uncertain in the greater number of 

 cases of the causes which induce this disturbance, anything 

 which may be attempted is too frequently unsatisfactory ; the 

 only remedy which I have found of much use has been morphia 

 used in full doses and subcutaneously. Should other indica- 

 tions point to an uncertain state of health, attempts must be 

 made in the direction of its improvement ; a little laxative 

 medicine followed by tonics I have believed to be productive of 

 good. In many it may bo needful to introduce the probang, 

 and ascertain that no obstruction exists ; and, above all, food 

 must be allowed which is not likely to induce local irritation. 



3. Organic Disease. — Of this, the chief manifestation is 

 stricture with obstruction. This narrowing of the tube may be 

 the result of — (a) Changes in the walls from previous inflam- 



