Diseases of the Digestive System. 1 87 



silver are recommended, the mouth being kept open by 

 means of the gag. 



Choking. — Notwithstanding ample provision in the 

 dog for bolting the food, this accident sometimes 

 takes place, the usual seat of obstruction being the 

 entrance to the pharynx. The Symptoms are frequent 

 attempts to regurgitate or force out the obstruction ; 

 fluids passed into the mouth return immediately. There 

 is also frequent cough, profuse salivation, great discom- 

 fort, an anxious look in the eyes, and sometimes the 

 obstruction may be seen and felt on the outside. 



Treatment. — Previous to actual surgical interference 

 the nature of the obstruction should be ascertained, as 

 sharp or angular substances are sometimes serious 

 offenders, and should not be pushed downwards. A 

 whalebone probe or a flexible tube specially made for 

 the purpose will answer for pressing down a piece of 

 meat, pudding, &c., but when bones or other hard and 

 dangerous things are lodged in the passage, the throat 

 forceps alone are useful, by which the body is seized and 

 drawn through the mouth. During the operation the 

 dog must be fixed securely, and the mouth held open by 

 the gag. These methods may fail in consequence of the 

 offending substance moving downwards and again re- 

 tained within the gullet. In this case, seeing no direct 

 possibility of moving the obstruction any further, the 

 surgeon will not hesitate to open the gullet by incision 

 from the outside, as experience shows the surprising 

 aptitude for heaHng in the portions subjected to the 

 operation. A fluid diet and attention to the wound 

 comprise the after- essentials for a week or more. 



Stricture of the Gullet is the probable result of 

 repeated choking, considerable injury to the mucous 

 membrane and even the muscular layer, arising from the 

 swallowing of hard, and probably sharp, angular sub- 

 stances, as bones, &c. Similar states are also due to the 

 presence and burrowing of a small round worm known as 

 Filaria sanguinolenta. 



The Symptoms are frequent and usually slight attacks 

 of choking, which subside without treatment, or otherwise, 



