VETERINARY SURGEON COMES. 479 



the lower jaw drops, the mouth gapes, and the dog looks as if 

 something were in its throat. These are the most marked symp- 

 toms, and whenever they are exhibited by a dog it should be at 

 once safely secured until the arrival of the veterinary surgeon. 

 We have just enumerated the measures to be promptly had re- 

 course to when a person or animal has been bitten by a dog — no 

 matter what its condition may be. 



It is a great mistake to at once destroy a dog which has bitten 

 any one, as its state of health cannot then be ascertained. The 

 most judicious course is to have the animal securely tied up where 

 it cannot do injury, and keep it under the observation of the 

 veterinary surgeon for a few days ; this will decide whether rabies 

 is present or absent. A stupid notion is entertained by some 

 people, that if a healthy dog inflict a bite, the person or animal 

 wounded will incur great peril sboii^l it afterwards become rabid. 

 This notion has no foundation whatever in iact, and should be got 

 rid of, as it frequently causes much anxiety and distress. 



Choking. — Choking often occurs with animals, and in some 

 cases death rapidly ensues if relief is not afforded. In the larger 

 animals it is generally caused by roots, apples, dry fodder — as chaff", 

 bran, chopped hay, &c., or foreign substances. In the smaller 

 animals — dog and cat — it is usually a bone. Sometimes it is due 

 to grooms giving a bail, either through this being too large, too 

 hard, or improperly placed at the back of the mouth. 



The symptoms differ somewhat, according to the situation and 

 nature of the obstruction. "When the latter is solid, and lodged at 

 the upper part of the throat or the neck, the animal exhibits much 

 distress: eyes prominent and staring; difficult breathing ; saliva 

 flowing from the mouth ; strenuous attempts to swallow ; bending 

 the nose in towards the chest, then spasmodically curving the neck 

 and extending the head; champing the jaws together ; coughing 

 violently, shrieking, and even expelling dung and urine; stamping 

 and pawing with the feet; when attempts are made to drink water, 

 the fluid returns by the nostrils; and there is profuse cold sweating. 

 In cattle there is great and rapid distension of the stomach, which 

 may very soon produce asphyxia; and when the substance gets 

 over the top of the windpipe in horses or cattle, death may result 

 in a few minutes. 



AYhen the obstruction is lodged in the neck portion of the gullet, 

 there is less difficulty in discovering it than when it is at the back 

 of the mouth or in the chest portion ; as, if at all large, it can be 

 seen as well as felt in the furrow and along the windpipe. 



When it is lodged in the part of the gullet which passes through 

 the chest, then the symptoms are not generally so urgent. But 

 the animal cannot swallow, and food and water are expelled through 



