82 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



manipulating that part externally. In such an event we must re- 

 sort to the use of the probang. A probang is a flexible instrument, 

 and adapts itself to the natural curvature of the gullet, so that if 

 it is used cautiously there is not much risk of injury. Before pass- 

 ing the probang, a gag which has an aperture at each end, from 

 which straps pass to be buckled at the back of the head below the 

 horns, is introduced into the mouth. The probang should then be 

 oiled, and, the head and neck being held in a straight line by two 

 assistants, the tongue must be partly drawn out of the mouth, the 

 probang cautiously passed along the roof of the mouth into the 

 pharynx and thence into the gullet, through which it is passed 

 down. If resistance is met, gentle and continuous pressure must be 

 employed, under the influence of which the agent will generally in 

 a short time pass into the stomach. One must be careful not to 

 pass the probang into the larynx and thence into the windpipe of 

 the cow. An animal may readily be killed in this way. This acci- 

 dent is indicated by efforts to cough and by violently disturbed 

 breathing. If such symptoms arise the probang must be withdrawn 

 at once. To avoid a wrong passage, the end of the tube should be 

 pressed through the throat very slowly until its presence in the 

 esophagus is assured. After it is once in the esophagus care is still 

 necessary, because the walls of this tube may easily be torn. 



Some writers have advised that when the obstruction is lodged 

 in the cervical (neck) portion of the gullet it should be struck with 

 a mallet, so as to crush it and thus alter its shape, so that it may 

 easily slip down into the stomach. If the obstructing substance is 

 hard, this will be a dangerous operation, but if soft as in case of 

 a ripe pear, for example this proceeding may be safely adopted. 



In all cases where pressure applied on tne neck fails to move 

 the obstruction and the probang also fails to move it, it may be di- 

 vided by a subcutaneous operation or the gullet may be opened and 

 the obstructing substance removed through the wound. In such 

 cases the assistance of a veterinarian or a surgeon must be obtained. 



Wounds and Injuries of the Gullet. Sometimes from the rash 

 and too forcible use of the probang the walls of the gullet may be 

 more or less lacerated or abraded, and the animal consequently 

 swallows with pain and difficulty. In such cases dry feed must be 

 withheld for five or six days, so as to allow the injured parts to heal, 

 and the diet must be limited to linseed tea, hay tea, and thin oat- 

 meal gruel and molasses. The same kind of diet must be fed after 

 the operation of cutting into the gullet has been performed. 



Sometimes the gullet is ruptured and lacerated to such an ex- 

 tent that treatment of any kind is hopeless. This has been known 

 to occur when the handle of a pitchfork or a buggy whip has been 

 pushed down a cow's throat to remove an obstruction. Where such 

 treatment has been applied it is best to slaughter the animal with? 

 out delay, as the flesh may be utilized so long as there is no fever 

 or general disease, and remedial treatment would be hopeless. In 

 this connection it may be mentioned that whatever substitute may 

 be used for a probang, which sometimes is not at hand, it should be 



