26 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



oats when getting their first feed. I have been 

 railed up on several occasions when a horse had 

 been turned out to grass without getting any oats, 

 and on getting a feed would swallow them. The 

 result would be choking from the dry oats sticking 

 in the gullet. The treatment is to give a little oil, 

 then rub the hand up and down the gullet to scat- 

 ter the accumulation. It may be necessary to give 

 a little oil several times and continue the rubbing, 

 as it may take some time to overcome the choking. 

 In case that no oil is at hand I have relieved cases 

 by pouring down some water. Anything that will 

 moisten the oats will assist. In cases when the 

 animal cannot be relieved by this treatment, cut 

 down on the gullet with the knife, making an inci- 

 sion and removing the material. Clean the wound 

 and bring the vd^* of the gullet together firmly 

 with silk thread or catgut, letting the ends hangout 

 of the external wound, then bring the edges of the 

 skin together, then put a bandage around and keep 

 it wet with cold water for twenty-four hours, and it 

 will usually heal. Give the animal soft food. There 

 are other causes of choking in the horse which are 

 difficult to cure — foreign bodies, such as pieces of 

 wood, a potato or piece of corn cob sticking in the 

 throat. This form gives rise to very severe symp- 

 toms. The animal arches its neck and tries to 

 vomit, the back is also arched and saliva flows from 

 the mouth, and if the animal is not soon relieved, 

 in i lamination of the throat takes place and the ani- 

 mal dies from suffocation and exhaustion. It is 

 necessary to put a twitch on the nose and a balling 



