DISEASES OF THE HORSE 25 



CHOKING 



This term applies to obstruction of the gullet as well 

 as that of the windpipe.X 



Cause : Too rapid eating, by which pieces of carrots 

 or other roots, or a quantity of dry food become lodged 

 in the gullet. Although obstructions of the windpipe 

 caused while drenching, or food entering the lungs, will 

 kill an animal in a very short time, obstructions in the 

 gullet may not prove fatal for several days. 



Teeatment: No time should be lost in attempting 

 to remove the obstruction from the gullet. It may be 

 dislodged by gently manipulating the gullet. If unsuc- 

 cessful in dislodging the obstruction in this manner, 

 secure the services of a competent veterinarian. He 

 will use a probang, an instrument made for this pur- 

 pose, or inject Sweet or Olive Oil into the gullet with 

 a hypodermic syringe, or give hj^odermic injections of 

 Arecoline. In administering drenches with the object 

 of dislodging obstructions in the gullet, you must re- 

 member that the liquids used are apt to go the wrong 

 way, that is to say, enter the lungs, and give rise to lung 

 complications, as lung fever, bronchitis, etc. Obstruc- 

 tions of solid substance in the windpipe generally cause 

 death very shortly. When liquids enter the lungs, death 

 is not so apt to occur, as the animal may live several 

 days, and sometimes even get well. They should be 

 treated the same as for lung fever. 



CRACKED HEELS 



Cause: There is little doubt in my mind that am- 

 monia, which is so plentifully found in ill-kept stables, 

 is the chief cause of cracked heels. The action of am- 

 monia on the skin renders it soft and pulpy, and dimin- 

 ishes its strength by separating the layers of which it 

 is composed. 



Symptoms : When inflammation is set up in the part, 

 the secretion of natural oil is interfered with and cracks 



