Dilatatiuu of the Esophagus. 235 



Stenosis due to actinomycosis may be treated with iodide 

 of potash (6-10 gm. daily) iodipin, iodine-vasogene. 



In a case of Strebel the sound introduced into the esophagus of a cow 

 met an impediment which was finally overcome, whereupon pus was discharged 

 abundantly; the animal recovered. (Abscess of the wall of the esophagus?) A 

 similar case has been described by Guilmot and Eheinheimer. 



Literature. Cochart, Eec, 1903, 369.— Friedenreich, Mag., 1850, 282.— 

 Frohner, Monh., 1902, XIII, 539; 1907, XVIII, 143.— Griitzner, Pfliigers Arch., 

 CVI, 463.— Hamoir, Ann., 1904, 657.— Hickes, J. of comp. Path., 1899, 4, 344.— 

 Joest, Dresd. Ber., 1907, 168.— Johne, S. B., 1882, 24; 1886, 56.— Mathis & Ball, 

 J. vet., 1905, 653.— Moussu, Eec, 1907, 421.— Peschel, S. B., 1884, 98.— Petit & 

 Germain, Eec, 1909, 621.— Eheinheimer, B. t. W., 1907, 123.— Schimmel, O. M., 

 1904, 117.— Smith, Vet. Jhb., 1890, 98.— Trager, Z. f. Vk., 1906, 25.— Wetzl, a'. L., 

 1907, 16.— Woodrufe, B. t. W., 1902, 442 (Eev.). 



6. Dilatation of the Esophagus. Dilatatio Oesophagi. 



{Erweiterung cles Sclilundes [German].) 



Dilatation of the esophagus is a permanent morbid con- 

 dition in which the lumen of the esophagus is either uniformly 

 enlarged (ectasia oesophagi) or in which the w^all is dilated 

 at a circumscribed spot (diverticulum oesophagi). 



Occurrence. Dilatation of the esophagus is a rather rare 

 occurrence; it is observed principally in horses in the lower 

 cervical or in the thoracic portion. It is considerably more 

 rare in cattle and occasionally presents in this animal numerous 

 wart-like excrescences. In other domestic animals the disease 

 occurs only very exceptionally (Schellenberg and Cadeac have 

 each reported one case in a dog). 



Etiology. Dilatation of the esophagus usually develops 

 gradually, being secondary to long continued esophageal 

 stenosis, after the muscularis of the part anterior to the stenosis 

 has become weakened, so that food collects here. Sometimes 

 occlusion of the esophagus may lead to dilatation which may 

 make its appearance within two to five days (Maury, Pr. Mt., 

 authors' observation), i. e., when the muscular coat of the 

 esophagus has been weakened by inflammation. The ectasias 

 are sometimes spindle-shaped, sometimes cylindrical, more 

 rarely sacculated and their wall, at least in its greatest portion, 

 is formed by all layers of the esophageal wall. 



More rarely and as a rule in older horses dilatation develops 

 as a primary affection. This might be due to a diminished 

 elasticity of the wall of the esophagais in advanced age; in 

 other cases psorospermosis of the muscle (Friedberger & 

 Frohner), or disease of the pneumogastric nerve (Kitt) may 

 play a role. The hypertrophy of the muscularis, however, which 

 is present in cases of this type, points to a previously existing 

 impediment to the passage of food, wdiicli may have been caused 

 by disease of the pneumogastric nerve with spasm of the cardia 



