48 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



oil or soap-linimcnt, .should be rubbed on the throat or the mouth held 

 open and by means of a brush or an atomizer sprayed directly on the 

 throat; apply such astringent and antiseptic throat washes as lime water, 

 tannic acid 1 to 3 per cent., potassium chlorate of borax 2 to 3 per cent, 

 solution. In more acute or chronic cases, wash the mouth out with a 

 solution of permanganate of potassium, boric or salicylic acid, or paint 

 the throat with nitrate of silver, 1 to 2 per cent., or tannite of glycerine, 

 5 to 10 per cent. 



DISEASES OF THE (ESOPHAGUS. 

 Foreign Bodies in the (Esophagus. 



The foreign bodies that become fixed in the pharynx or oesophagus 

 of the dog in play or by gulping down their food as fast as possible, if an- 

 other animal is near, are numerous and varied; they consist of portions of 

 food, such as hard, irregular-sized pieces of meat that have been taken in 

 one gulp; long, sharp pieces of bone, such as mutton or fish, pieces of wood, 

 needles, or small stones; sometimes objects are swallowed by accident, 

 such as stones, buttons, glass, or india-rubber balls, corks, etc., and lodged 

 in the pharynx at the entrance of the oesophagus; or if the object is small, 

 it may go a certain distance into the tube and lodge there. 



The symptoms may come on very suddenly and vary according to the 

 general character and position of the foreign body. As a rule, the animal 

 is restless and keeps the head and neck extended; it scratches itself on the 

 throat with the paws over the spot where the obstruction is located. If it 

 is in the pharnyx, the animal shows signs of choking or may vomit, from 

 time to time, small quantities of mucus and saliva, which is dirty and 

 frothy and may be stained with blood, and later pieces of undigested food 

 which in the later stages becomes foetid. It coughs frequently, and if the 

 obstruction is large, it refuses to eat or drink. If water is forced on the 

 animal, it passes down the throat very slowly and evidently with diffi- 

 culty, or may be vomited immediately after it is swallowed. If the 

 foreign body is in the oesophagus, it may be felt externally with the finger 

 or, opening the mouth and depressing the tongue, it may be seen lodged in 

 the pharnyx; if it is in the cervical portion of the oesoiDhagus, it can be de- 

 tected by making a careful examination along the course of the tube or by 

 the probang introduced into it, as has been described on page 17. The 

 latter method is the only way to positively determine the presence of a 

 foreign body when it has lodged in the thoracic portion of the oesophagus. 

 In introducing the probang it must be carefully inserted, and if it should 

 come in contact with the foreign body too great pressure must not be made 

 on it, as it is apt to pack the object more firmly or even cause perforation 



