DISEASES OF THE HOESE. -19 



remove the object by cutting down upon it. This should scarce!}- be 

 attempted bj^ a novice, as a knowledge of the anatomj- of the parts is 

 essential to avoid cutting the large artery, vein, and nerve that are 

 closely related to the esophagus in its cervical portion. 



Thoracic choke. — Thoracic choke can be treated only by means of 

 the introduction of oils and mucilaginous drinks, and the careful use 

 of the probang. 



Stricture of the esophagus. — This is due to corrosive medicines, 

 previous choking (accompanied by lacerations, which, in healing, nar- 

 row the passage), oj pressure on the gullet by tumors. In the majority 

 of cases of stricture^ dilatation of the gullet in front of the constiicted 

 portion soon occurs. This dilatation is due to the frequent accumula- 

 tion of solid food above the constriction. Little can be done in either 

 of these instances except to feed on sloppy or liquid food. 



Sacular dilatation of the esophagus. — This follows choking, 

 and is due to stretching or rupture of the muscular coat of the gullet, 

 allowing the internal, or mucous, coat to protrude through the lacer- 

 ated muscular walls. Such a dilatation, or pouch, may gradually 

 enlarge from the frequent imprisonment of food. When liquids are 

 taken, the solid materials are partiall}' washed out of the pouch. 



Symptoms. — Tlie symptoms are as follows: The horse is able to 

 swallow a few mouthfuls of food without apparent difficult}-; then he 

 v/ill stop feeding, paw, contract the muscles of his neck, and eject a 

 portion of the food through his nose or mouth, or it will gradually 

 work down to the stomach. As the dilatation thus empties itself the 

 symptoms gradually subside, only to reappear when he has again taken 

 solid food. Liquids pass without an}^, or but little, inconvenience. 

 Should this dilatation exist in the cervical region, surgical interference 

 may sometimes prove effectual; if in the thoracic portion, nothing can 

 be done, and the patient rapidly passes from hand to hand by "swap- 

 ping," until, at no distant date, the contents of the sac become too firm 

 to l>e dislodged as heretofore, and the animal succumbs. 



diseases of the stomach and intestines. 



As a rule it is most difficult to distinguish between diseases of the 

 stomach and of the intestines of the horse. The reason for this is that 

 the stomach is relatively small. It lies away from the abdominal wall, 

 and so pressure from without can not be brought to bear upon it to 

 reveal sensitiveness or pain. Nor docs enlargement, or distention, of 

 the stomach produce visible alteration in the form of the abdomen of 

 the horse. Moreover, it is a rule to which there are few exceptions 

 that an irritant or cause of disease of the stomach acts likewise upon 

 the intestines, so that it is customary to find them similarly deranged. 

 For these reasons it is logical to discuss together the diseases of the 

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