DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE 0R(;ANS. G5 



Tlioi'acic choke fan be treated only by means of the introdnetion 

 of oils and mncilaginon.s drinks and the careful nse of the piobang. 



STRICTURE OF THE ESOPHAGUS. 



This is due to corrosive medicines, previous chokiny; ^acrwuipanied 

 with lacerations, Avhich, in healing, narrow the passa<^e), or pressuio 

 on the gullet by tumors. In the majority of cases of stricture, dila- 

 tation of the gullet in front of the constricted portion soon occuis. 

 This dilatation is the result of the frecjuent accuuudation of solid feed 

 above the constriction. Little can be done in either (;f these instances 

 except to give slojipy or li(]uid feed. 



SACULAR DILATATION OF THE ESOPHAGUS. 



This follows choking, and is due to stretching or rupture of the 

 muscular coat of the gullet, allowing the internal, or mucous, coat 

 to protrude through the hicerated muscular Avails. Such a dilatation, 

 or pouch, may gradually enlarge from the fretiuent imprisonment 

 of feed. AVhen liquids are taken, the solid materials are partially 

 washed out of the pouch. 



The symi>toms are as follows: The horse is able to swallow a few 

 mouthfuls without apparent difficulty; then he will stop feeding, 

 paw, contract the muscles of his neck, and eject a portion of the feed 

 through his nose or U)outh, or it will gradually work down to the 

 stomach. As the dilatation thus empties itself the symptoms grad- 

 ually subside, only to reappear when he has again taken solid feed. 

 Liquids pass without any, or but little, inconvenience. Should this 

 dilatation exist in the cervical region, surgical interference may 

 sometimes prove effectual; if in the thoracic portion, iu)thing can 

 be done, and the patient rapidly passes from hand to hand by " swap- 

 ping," until, at no distant date, the contents of the sac become too 

 lirm to be dislodged as heretofore, and the animal succumbs. 



DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES. 



As a ride it is mo^t diffiodt to distinguish between diseases of the 

 stomach and of the intestines of the horse. The reason for this is 

 that the stomach is I'elatively small. It lies away from the abdom- 

 inal wall, and so pres.sure from without can not be biought to bear 

 upon it to reveal sensitiveness or pain. Nor does enlargement, or 

 ilistention. of the stomach pioduce visible alteration in the form of 

 the abdomen of the horse. Moreover, it is a rule to which there aie 

 few exceptions, that an irritant or cause of disease of the stomach 

 acts likewise upon the intestines, so that it is ciistomarv to find theui 

 similarly deianged. For these reasons it is logical to discuss together 



