DISEASES OF HORSES 109 



the upper portion of the esophagus. The horse will present symp- 

 toms of great distress, hurried breathing, frequent cough, excessive 

 flow of saliva, sweating, trembling, or stamping with the fore feet. 

 The abdomen rapidly distends with gas. The diagnosis is com- 

 pleted by manipulating the upper part of the throat from without 

 and by the introduction of the hand into the back part of the 

 mouth, finding the body lodged here. In cervical choke (where the 

 obstruction is situated at any point between the throatlatch and 

 the shoulder) the protrusion caused by the object can be seen and the 

 object can be felt. The symptoms here are not so severe ; the horse 

 will be seen occasionally to draw himself up, arch his neck, and 

 make retching movements as though he wished to vomit. Should 

 there be any question as to the trouble a conclusion may be reached 

 by pouring water into the throat from a bottle. If the obstruction 

 is complete you can see the gullet become distended with each bottle 

 of water by standing on the left side of the horse and watching the 

 course of the esophagus, just above the windpipe. This is not 

 always a sure test, as the obstruction may be an angular body, in 

 which case liquids would pass it. Solids taken would show in these 

 cases ; but solids should not, however, be given, as they serve to in- 

 crease the trouble by rendering the removal of the body more 

 difficult. 



In thoracic choke the symptoms are less severe. Food or water 

 may be ejected through the nose or mouth after the animal has 

 taken a few swallows. There will be some symptoms of distress, 

 fullness of the abdomen, cough, and occasionally retching move- 

 ments. Sometimes a horse that is choking is heard to emit groans. 

 The facial expression always denotes great anxiety and the eyes are 

 bloodshot. The diagnosis is complete if, upon passing the probang 

 (a flexible tube made for this purpose) an obstruction is encountered. 



If the choke is at the beginning of the gullet (pharyngeal) an 

 effort must be made to remove the obstacle through the mouth. 

 A mouth-gag is to be introduced into the mouth to protect the 

 hand and arm of the operator. Then, while an assistant, with his 

 hands grasped tightly behind the object, presses it upward and for- 

 ward with all his force, the operator must pass his hand into the 

 mouth until he can seize the obstruction and draw it outward. This 

 mode of procedure must not be abandoned with the first failure, as 

 we may get the obstacle farther toward the mouth by continued 

 efforts. If we fail with the hand, forceps may be introduced through 

 the mouth and the object seized -when it is just beyond the reach of 

 the fingers. Should our efforts entirely fail, we must then en- 

 deavor to force the obstruction downward by means of the probang. 

 This instrument, which is of such signal service in removing choke 

 in cattle, is decidedly more dangerous to use for the horse; and I 

 can not pass this point without a word of caution to those who have 

 been known to introduce into the horse's throat such objects as 

 whipstalks, shovel handles, etc. These are always dangerous, and 

 more than one horse has been killed by such barbarous treatment. 



