Sj'inptoms. Course. Diai;n«)sis. Treatinoiil. 075 



and partly tlirougli the iiioiith. Illuiiiiiuitiou of the interior of 

 the pharynx may show it adhering- to the posterior wall of the 

 cavity. If there is simultaneous paralysis of the esophagus 

 food may remain here. Drinking appears to be little disturbed 

 at the outset. The secretion of saliva is increased. Paralysis 

 of the larynx causes whistling or roaring and finally aphonia. 

 As a result of paralysis of the tongue, swallowing is rendered 

 still more difficult and the food collects in the mouth. This 

 greatly interferes with drinking, and in many cases the 

 horses try to get water into the upper part of the esophagus 

 by suddenly lifting the head after having taken water into the 

 mouth in a manner resembling that seen in the goose. The 

 tongue undergoes a process of atrophy and its upper surface 

 appears wrinkled. Evidence of paralysis of the nerves of the 

 face soon makes its appearance and, owing to paralysis of the 

 lips, food is prehended with the incisor teeth. Finally, there 

 is paralysis of the muscles of mastication. In exceptional cases 

 the paralysis is more pronounced and more extensive on one 

 side than on the other. In a case of bulbar paralysis observed 

 by Frohner there was pronounced atrophy of the muscles of 

 the back and croup. 



Course. The disease lasts for five or six months or more, 

 the animals becoming very emaciated owing to difficulty of 

 swallowing. Debility or pneumonia due to the passage of food 

 down the esophagus finally bring the disease to a fatal termina- 

 tion. 



Diagnosis. Diagnosis is based upon the exclusion of ab- 

 scesses in the pharynx, neoplasms, impaction with foreign 

 bodies and diseases of the esophagus. 



Treatment. The administration of thin pultaceous foods 

 is indicated throughout the course of the disease, a stomach 

 tube being used if necessary (see page 123). If the disease is 

 not checked it appears advisable to consider the value of the 

 animal as early as possible. 



Literature. Cadeae, J. Vet., 1902, 519.— Degive, Ann., 1883, 12.— Frohner. 

 Monh., 1905, XVI, 550.— Eosenfeld, Z. f. Vk., 1905, 26. 



