238 Dilatation of the Esophagus. 



times exhibit a mild colic. Ziirn lias seen periodical contrac- 

 tions of the esophagus running from the thoracic to the cervical 

 portions. 



By repeated attempts at deglutition the animal finally 

 succeeds in transporting the contents of the dilated portion, 

 either towards the stomach or towards the outside world; then 

 the ingestion of food is again resumed. (During one period 

 of feeding several interruptions of this kind may be noted.) 

 The i3atient may in this manner take up an entire ration, 

 although much more slowly than normally. In those milder 

 cases where the ectatic portion temporarily becomes partially 

 or completely empty, disturbances in the intake of water are 

 usually seen only directly or shortly after the ingestion of 

 solid food; they are absent or only very slight as long as the 

 ectatic portion is empty. 



Diverticula may exist without any marked disturbances of degluti- 

 tion (Ziirn), they may lead to only retarded ingestion of food with a 

 discharge mixed with particles of food. The clinical picture here is 

 similar to that of stenosis of the esophagus. The condition may become 

 obvious only upon the occurrence of complications (aspiration pneu- 

 monia ) . 



If a dilatation exists in the cervical portion of the esoph- 

 agus, one sees a more or less circumscribed, roundish, or 

 more cylindrical swelling in the left jugular depression, which 

 may or may not extend toward the right side. The former 

 condition is rather rare. The swelling is usually doughy, more 

 rarely firm in consistency; it gives a t^onpanic sound l3efore 

 the ingestion of food, becomes larger after it, and it can be 

 made to decrease in size by pressing or kneading; simulta- 

 neously with such manipulations there is a discharge from the 

 nose of a slimy, eventually fetid mass of masticated food. 

 These manipulations sometimes also cause gagging. The nutri- 

 tion always suffers, generally from the start; progressive 

 emaciation indicates some internal trouble at a time when 

 the symptoms are not yet well marked. The more the 

 difficulties in deglutition increase, the more the animal emaciates, 

 and it may in fact finally starve to death. 



In ruminants there is also present a chronic bloating due 

 to the obliteration of the esophagus, which is at first temporary 

 then continuous. 



In the later course of the disease, pressure upon the trachea, 

 the l)ronchi and the pneumogastric nerve after food ingestion 

 produces disturbances of circulation and respiration; patients 

 may occasionally suffocate in consequence of pressure (Fried- 

 berger & Frohner) or in consequence of the aspiration of food 

 material. 



Course. With an increase of the stenosis behind the dila- 

 tation, or with an increasing loss of power of the muscular coat 



