150 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



Pharyngeal Polypi. — These sometimes have a constricted base ; 

 others have a wide base ; the animal will fall off in condition, shows 

 fits of temporary choking, coughs violently, staggers, and perhaps 

 falls, and then is relieved, after which there is a discharge of blood 

 from the nose ; this shows you there is some irritation in connection 

 with the pharynx. If it has a constricted base, you may remove it 

 with an ecraseur, but if it has a broad base, it is better to let it 

 alone, especially in an old horse. There is difficulty in the hemorrhage 

 passing down the trachea and causing inflammation of the trachea and 

 lungs. 



ffilsophagUS, — Choking occurs in all animals, but is more common in 

 cattle. It may be due to an improperly masticated bolus of food, and 

 this is a severe kind of choking ; or it may be from a hard body, as a 

 piece of turnip, potato, apple, etc., from a ball being given in a hard form. 

 Hence it is necessary to soften balls before giving them. It is sometimes 

 produced by giving an egg without breaking it, or from something taken 

 with the hay. Thorns have been found lodged in the oesophagus. It 

 may either be in the cervical or thoracic portion, and the symptoms are 

 more distressing when in the cervical portion. There are signs of un- 

 easiness ; if there is an attempt to swallow liquids, they are regurgitated ; 

 there is an increased flow of saliva. In the horse there is a spasmodic 

 retching of the neck, especially if it is in the thoracic portion ; there is 

 difficulty of breathing, which may increase and cause suffocation. 



Symptoms. — Pass the hand along the course of the oesophagus, and if it 

 is in the cervical portion, you can detect it. Another symptom in cattle 

 is tympanites ; but this does not always occur. 



Treatment. — If the symptoms are not very prominent, endeavour to 

 find the nature of the obstruction, and then the situation of it, and if it 

 is in the pharynx or cervical legion, you may be able to displace it by 

 manipulation. If you fail in this, give a little liquid — some oil if it is a 

 hard body ; but be careful with oil, if it is some partially masticated food. 

 If this also fails, use the probang ; a leather one is best for cattle, and 

 it is not necessary to cast the animal, but it is well in some cases to use 

 the guide to prevent injury to the probang. The treatment in cattle is 

 just the same ; and when you fail to remove it with the probang, cut 

 down if it is in the cervical region, and remove it ; then bring the edges 

 together by a suture. Keep the animal quiet, and give no food but a small 

 amount of liquids for some time. This is not a very successful operation, 

 but if all other means fail, try it. If there is much tympanites and 

 symptoms of suffocation in cattle, use the trochar. 



Dilatation of the (Esophagus sometimes results from choking. It 

 may dilate to a great extent and cause alarming symptoms ; the animal 

 is from time to time attacked with sj^mptoms of choking, which is better 

 noticed when the food is changed. If it is in the cervical region there 

 will be a pouch formed, which can be felt or seen. If it is in the cervical 

 portion, it may be relieved in some cases by a pad supported by a band- 

 age around the neck— by careful and frequent feeding ; and do not give a 

 sudden change of food. Some say to cut down and remove some of it, 

 but this is impossible. There is sometimes just the opposite of this, or 



Stricture of the (Esophagus. — There are two kinds, spasmodic and 

 a thickening of the mucous membrane, and when one part becomes dilated 

 from choking another part is apt to be constricted. There is difficulty in 

 swallowing, and food may collect above the stricture, or va&y become re- 

 gurgitated ; flesh is rapidly lost, and the animal may linger for weeks or 

 months and then die. Sometimes you are justified in passing the probang, 



