420 FOREIGN BODIES IN THE OESOPHAGUS OF CATTLE. 



the instrument advanced, and the substance grasped and removed. 

 These appliances have, however, only a narrow field of useful- 

 ness. Although their working is often interfered with by the 

 curvature of the oesophagus at the entrance of the chest, 

 notable especially in horses, one or other may be tried where 

 the foreign body is low down and cannot otherwise be forced 

 on. Dinter deprecates the forcible use of the oesophageal sound, 

 and when it is unsuccessful, punctures the rumen, and awaits 

 the passage of the foreign body, which almost invariably occurs in 

 six to eight hours. Strebel confirms this, but in one case had to 

 wait forty-eight hours for the passage of the obstruction. He also 

 suggests giving small doses of oil. Willach also recommends this 

 expectant treatment. The subcutaneous breaking down of the 

 foreign body, suggested by Lafosse, is liable to injure the jugular, 

 and is usually followed by pus formation, necessitating enlargement 

 of the wound. Mauri has, nevertheless, recommended this treat- 

 ment recently. Should difficulties occur in removing the foreign 

 body, and considerable tympanites result, as is frequent in cattle, 

 the rumen must be punctured to ward off suffocation. 



If the removal of the offending substance by the described methods 

 fails, as is usually the case when it lies in the thoracic portion, 

 drenching with small doses of oil may be tried, if no difficulty 

 in breathing exist. Caution, however, is necessary to prevent the 

 fluid passing into the trachea and producing mechanical pneumonia. 

 Small quantities should be given at a time and the animal watched, 

 so that, if coughing occur, the administration may at once be stopped. 

 After puncture of the rumen, it is desirable to wait for twelve to 

 twenty -four hours for softening and dispersal of the foreign body. 

 Michalski gave a bull H grains of veratrine dissolved in 2\ drams 

 of spirit subcutaneously, producing violent oesophageal spasms in 

 fifteen minutes and the disappearance of the obstruction. Im- 

 melmann's statements point to the possible usefulness of subcutaneous 

 injections of pilocarpine, which provoke profuse salivation. 

 Apomorphine favours oesophageal peristalsis and eructation, although 

 this latter act is only produced exceptionally. Arecolin and eserin 

 given hypodermically and chloride of barium intravenously have 

 also been recommended. 



(5) (Esophagotomy. Incision into the oesophagus. This operation 

 can only be performed in the neck portion of the oesophagus, and 

 is only indicated where the measures above described fail. It 

 is the last possible resource, where one has to deal with sharp sub- 

 stances, like bones, &c. Its difficulties and dangers are usually 



