CHOKING. 533 



Some years ago Mr. King was called to a horse belonging to 

 a coach proprietor. The owner said his horse " had a bad sore 

 throat, and could not swallow." Mr. King examined the throat 

 and gullet, but, finding nothing, suspected nothing. The horse 

 was blistered and drenched ; but the liquids all returned with- 

 out any effort being made to swallow them. The animal died ; 

 and on examination there was found, within the thoracic portion 

 of the oesophagus, a ball composed of the ashes of tobacco, en- 

 veloped in double paper. At first, all knowledge concerning 

 this discovery was stoutly denied ; but afterwards it was con- 

 fessed that the ball had been administered for worms. Had not 

 such delusion been practised, the probang would have been used, 

 and, Mr. King thinks, have proved effectual. 



Mr. King also observes, " there is a notion abroad, new-laid 

 eggs will improve the condition of horses ; and the practice is 

 to administer them with the shell only starred in a few places : 

 a practice that has in some instances been the means of choking 

 the animal." 



Mr. King was once called to a horse with a reported " sore 

 throat." The groom swore he knew no cause for it. Mr. King, 

 however, had reasons for entertaining doubts of the man's 

 veracity, and therefore proceeded at once to pass a probang. On 

 the return of the instrument the bulb was found covered with 

 fragments of egg-shell. The horse speedily recovered. Mr. 

 King has had related to him, on good authority, two similar 

 cases in cattle practice. 



The following irremediable and fatal case of the same descrip- 

 tion occurred to Mr. T. Cooper, V.S., Coleshill. 



In December 1834 Mr. Cooper was called to Dunton Hall, to 

 a bay horse that was taken suddenly unwell. Mr. Cooper found 

 the animal " coughing violently, and stamping with his fore 

 feet, with saliva running from his mouth, wliich he occasionally 

 attempted to swallow, but the greater part returned through his 

 nostrils." It was evident there was obstruction. The horse 

 had been eating Swedish turnips. Mr. Cooper passed a whale- 

 bone down the oesophagus, " and a rounded substance could be 

 distinctly seen driven before it. The horse after tliis appeared 

 to be relieved ; he ate some hay and drank some water, and was 

 left for the night." Next day he was much worse. He did not 

 cough, but heaved very much at the flank ; refused all food and 



