860 CATTLE. 



has been corroded, and is coming away piecemeal. The disease fre- 

 quently terminates in suffocation, about the fourth or fifth day. 



On examination after death, the pharynx is generally filled with 

 this purulent matter, and the membjane beneath is in a state of ul- 

 ceration, or gangrene. The inflammatory appearance, and the gan- 

 grenous one too, extend to a greater or less distance down the gullet ; 

 they usually occupy the whole of the larynx, and often a considera- 

 ble portion of the windpipe, and occasionally may be traced into the 

 bronchial tubes. It is evidently a local affection ; it is acute inflam- 

 mation of the pharynx or the larynx ; oftenest of the former, and 

 sometimes of both. The contents of the thorax and the abdomen 

 are usually free from disease. 



Bleeding has been found of little sei ^ice in this complaint ; and it 

 is necessary either to h;isten the suppuration while the surrounding 

 membrane and other parts retain some vital power, or to evacuate 

 the fluid as quickly as possible. For the first purpose, blisters of 

 various kinds, and even the heated iron, have been applied to the 

 throat ; for the second, the tumor has been lanced, however deeply 

 it may be seated. It requires, however, an experienced veterinary 

 surgeon to conduct any operation here, for the part is crowded with 

 important blood-vessels, the wounding of one of which may be 

 fatal. 



When there is no great external enlargement, and yet much difl5- 

 culty of breathing, and suffocation is thieatened, there is reason to 

 apprehend that the pharynx, or some factitious pouch which nature 

 has suddenly formed for the fluid, or the guttural pouches, (yet very 

 rarely, for they are small in the ox,) or the commencement of the 

 communication between the mouth and the ear, are filled with pus. 

 None but a skillful veterinary surgeon should attempt an opening in 

 such a case. The following hints may be some guide, 



PUNCTURING THE PHARYNX. 



The beast must be cast, and properly secured. This must be 

 effected with as little violence as possible, for in the struggles of the 

 animal, and the sudden quickening of the breathing, suffocation may 

 ensue in a moment. If there be a little greater enlargement on one 

 side than on the other, the animal should be cast with that side up- 

 ward. The operator should now have the head of the patient mode- 

 rately extended, and then he will ascertain the situation of the middle 

 of the anterior edge of the atlas, or first bone of the neck (?/., p. 143). 

 Close upon this, or coniTected with it, he will find the posterior edge 

 of the parotid ghmd. He should elevate the skin, and, tak ng the 

 edge of the atlas as a guide, and following its direction, he should 

 make his incision about two, or not exceeding thiee inches in length, 

 but no deeper than the skin and the cellular substance, and the 

 centre of his incision should answer to the centre of the rounded 



