THi: DISEASES OF CATTLE. 79^ 



the internal surface of the cesophagus, and aid us when attempt- 

 ing to force the impacted material towards the stomach. Be- 

 fore any attempts are made to introduce the probang (see cut 

 of instruments), some efforts should be made to manipulate the 

 obstruction, and thus force it downwards ; if it can be felt yet 

 cannot be moved by external manipulation, there is very little 

 chance for the animal ; yet we are not without resource, ^he 

 probang is our remedy. This is to be introduced through the 

 mouth-piece into the oesophagus ; some slight degree of force 

 may be used to push the obstruction downwards ; if that fail, 

 no time should be lost in futile efforts ; an operation must be 

 performed termed oesophagotomy. 



(ESOPHAGOTOMY. 



. This operation is performed as follows : Place the animal 

 in the trevis or cast, and etherize him ; then make an incision 

 over the region of the obstruction, through the skin and sub- 

 cellular tissues ; the oesophagus will then be seen. The only 

 vessels in this location that are of any consequence, are the 

 jugular vein and common carotid artery ; but there is no dan- 

 ger of wounding them when the oesophagus is distended. The 

 obstruction having been found, an incision is to be made through 

 the coats of the gullet sufficiently large to admit of the extraction 

 of the incarcerated body ; so soon as this desirable object is ef- 

 fected, the edges of the gullet maybe closed by sutures or stitches, 

 one end of which should be cut off close to the knot, and the 

 other left long enough to hang out of the external wound. The 

 integuments are then to be brought together by another set of 

 stitches, taking care to leave a small orifice at the lower pait 

 of the neck, for the escape of any morbid matter. The wound, 

 with the exception of this orifice, should be well coated with 

 collodion or liquid cuticle. For a few days after the operation, 

 the patient should be kept on a light, sloppy diet, sufficiently 

 seasoned with common salt to prevent fermentation. In the 

 course of a fortnight the wound will be quite healed. 



