DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 21 



the substance gradually slide it into the pharynx and then withdraw 

 it by the mouth. 



The presence of an obstructing substance in the cervical (neck) 

 portion of the gullet may be ascertained by passing the hand along 

 the left side of the neck, when a hard and painless swelling will be 

 found to indicate the presence of the foreign body. In such cases 

 we must endeavor by gentle and persevering pressure with the thumb 

 and next two fingers to slide the obstructing substance gradually up- 

 ward to the pharynx.' To facilitate this it is well to give the animal 

 a half pint of raw linseed or olive oil before the manipulations de- 

 scribed are commenced. A^Hien the substance has been brought into 

 or nearly into the pharynx, then the mouth gag should be used, the 

 tongue drawn partially forward with the left hand, and the right 

 should be passed backward into the pharynx to withdraw the ob- 

 struction. 



When bran or chaff causes the trouble it is best to give a small 

 quantity of oil to lubricate the walls of the gullet, and then by gentle 

 and persevering pressure, to endeavor to separate and divide the mass 

 and to work it downward toward the stomach. This will be assisted 

 by pouring small quantities of oil and water down the animal's throat. 

 It is not advisable to use the probang to push down any soft material, 

 such as oats or chaff, as this generally condenses and renders firmer the 

 obstructing substance by pressing its particles or elements together, 

 so that it forms a solid, resisting mass which can not be moved. 



In some cases the foreign body, either because it is in the chest 

 portion of the esophagus, and so beyond reach, or because too firmly 

 seated, can not be dislodged from the neck by pressing and manipu- 

 lating that part externally. In such event we must resort to the use 

 of the probang. (PI. Ill, figs. 2 and 3.) A probang is a flexible 

 instrument and adapts itself to the natural curvature of the gullet, 

 and if used cautiously there is not much risk of injury. Before 

 passing the probang, a gag which has an aperture at each end, from 

 which straps pass to be buckled at the back of the head below 

 the horns, is introduced into the mouth. (PI. Ill, fig. 4.) The pro- 

 bang should then be oiled, and, the head and neck being held in a 

 straight line by two assistants, the tongue must be partly drawn out 

 of the mouth, the probang cautiously passed along the roof of the 

 mouth into the pharynx and thence into the gullet, through which 

 it is passed down. If resistance is met, gentle and continuous pressure 

 must be used, under the influence of which the object will generally 

 in a short time pass into the stomach. One must be careful not to 

 pass the prol)ang into the larynx and thence into the windpipe, as 

 an animal may readily be killed in this way. This accident is indi- 

 cated by efforts to cough and by violently disturbed breathing. If 

 such symptoms arise the probang must be withdrawn at once. To 



