CHOKING. 377 



down while he is eating, in which case he will not be 

 so likely to choke. No explanation is offered for this fact ; 

 still, it is well known to be the case. A fit of choking may 

 also be caused by the administration of a very large bolus, 

 and more particularly if it be hard, hence a bolus should 

 always be of medium size, and moderately soft. Eggs given 

 with the shells unbroken, as a remedy for colic, have been 

 known to produce very severe fits of choking. But dry 

 food becoming impacted, especially if the whole course of 

 the oesophagus be involved, is the worst of all forms of 

 choking. This kind is likelier to occur in very greedy 

 animals, especially if such are old, the teeth worn, in bad 

 order, and the salivary glands not actively secreting. 



Symi)toms. — About the first symptom is slight uneasiness 

 on the part of the animal. Coughing, violent attempts at 

 swallowing, succeeded by equally as earnest efforts to re- 

 gurgitate, retching, spasmodic movements of the neck, etc., 

 are prominent symptoms. If the animal attempts to drink, 

 or is given a draught, the most of the liquid returns through 

 the nostrils. A free discharge of saliva is usually observable ; 

 the abdominal muscles contract and draw up the belly ; the 

 animal curves his neck and retches violently. This symp. 

 tom is more particularly noticeable wnen the choking is in 

 connection with that part of the oesophagus which is 

 situated within the thorax. Sometimes the obstruction 

 can be detected when situated within the cervical portion 

 of the oesophagus. A well-marked symptom in cattle is a 

 tympanitic condition of the rumen. Tympanites very rarely 

 occurs as a symptom, or result, of choking in the horse. "When 

 the obstruction is situated high up in the cervical portion 

 of the oesophagus, symptoms of suffocation are frequently 

 presented ; but such may last for a considerable length of 

 time without the case terminating fatally. 



Treatment. — The practitioner should endeavour to find 



