DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES. 49 



bang is then to be carefully guided by the hand into the upper part of 

 the gullet and gently forced downward until the obstruction is 

 reached. Pressure must then be gradual and firm. Do not at first 

 attempt too much force, or the esophagus will be ruptured. Simply 

 keep up this firm, gentle pressure until you feel the object moving, 

 after which you are to follow it rapidly to the stomach. If this mode 

 of treatment is unsuccessful, a veterinarian or physician is to be called 

 in, who can remove the object by cutting down upon it. This should 

 scarcely be attempted by a novice, as a knowledge of the anatomy of 

 the parts is essential to avoid cutting the large artery, vein, and nerve 

 that are closely related to the esophagus in its cervical portion. 



THORACIC CHOKE. Thoracic choke can be treated only by means of 

 the introduction of oils and mucilaginous drinks, and the careful use 

 of the probang. 



STRICTURE OF THE ESOPHAGUS. This is due to corrosive medicines, 

 previous choking (accompanied by lacerations, which, in healing, nar- 

 row the passage), or pressure on the gullet by tumors. In the major- 

 ity of cases of stricture, dilatation of the gullet in front of the con- 

 stricted portion soon occurs. This dilatation is due to the frequent 

 accumulation of solid food above the constriction. Little can be done 

 in either of these instances except to feed on sloppy or liquid food. 



SACULAR DILATATION OF THE ESOPHAGUS. This follows choking, and 

 is due to stretching or rupture of the muscular coat of the gullet, 

 allowing the internal, or mucous, coat to protrude through the lacer- 

 ated muscular walls. Such a dilatation, or pouch, may gradually 

 enlarge from the frequent imprisonment of food. When liquids are 

 taken, the solid materials are partially washed out of the pouch. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are as follows: The horse is able to 

 swallow a few mouthfuls of food without apparent difficulty; then 

 he will stop feeding, paw, contract the muscles of 'his neck, and eject 

 a portion of the food through his nose or mouth, or it will gradually 

 work down to the stomach. As the dilatation thus empties itself the 

 symptoms gradually subside, only to reappear when he has again 

 taken solid food. Liquids pass without any, or but little, inconven- 

 ience. Should this dilatation exist in the cervical region, surgical in- 

 terference may sometimes prove effectual; if in the thoracic por- 

 tion, nothing can be done, and the patient rapidly passes from hand 

 to hand by " swapping," until, at no distant date, the contents of the 

 sac become too firm to be dislodged as heretofore, and the animal 

 succumbs. 



DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES. 



As a rule it is most difficult to distinguish between diseases of the 

 stomach and of the intestines of the horse. The reason for this is 

 that the stomach is relatively small. It lies away from the abdominal 



H. Doc. 795, 59-2 i 



