CHOKED CATTLE. 297 



Sometimes, too, the stilett of the first tube, the slide 

 being taken off, can be advantageously used as the 

 rod of a gun, forcing the obstruction down by re- 

 peated percussions. 



Should these contrivances fail, and the obstruction 

 still remain, bleeding, sometimes carried to absolute 

 fainting, may be resorted to, in preference to crush- 

 ing the root by external violence, though even this is 

 sometimes admissible. There is not a more pow- 

 erful relaxant of the muscles than bleeding ; and 

 during this momentary relaxation the operator may 

 frequently move the body upward, if possible and 

 in preference, but downward if it will not come up. 

 If the obstruction can neither be forced down nor 

 removed by crushing, the animal must be lost un- 

 less the operation of asophagotomy be resorted to, 

 or the obstruction cut down upon, and then removed 

 through the opening. The veterinary surgeon will 

 here find no difficulty, and may proceed with confi- 

 dence. 



The animal should be cast, thrown on the right 

 side, the head stretched out, and lying as flat as the 

 horns will permit. The point of obstruction will be 

 seen at once. An opening is now made through the 

 skin, the cellular substance a little dissected away, 

 the gullet opened, and the obstruction removed. 

 The edges of the gullet should then be brought to- 

 gether and confined with two stitches, and the skin 

 secured in the same way. The beast should have 

 nothing but gruel for two or three days, then gruel 

 and mashes may be allowed, and in a fortnight or 

 three weeks the wound will generally be healed. 



If the root has passed into the thorax before it is 

 observed, or the operator has been called, the chances 

 of saving the animal are much diminished. The ob- 

 struction must be either drawn up or pushed down 

 without delay ; and great force is here allowable ; for, 

 if it be not overcome, the animal will surely die. Cat- 

 tle that have once been choked are found more liable 



