DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 23 



operator may by passing his middle finger above and partly behind 

 the substance gradually slide the object into the pharynx and then 

 withdraw it by the mouth. The presence of an obstructing substance 

 in the cervical portion of the gullet may be ascertained by passing the 

 hand along the left side of the neck, when a hard and painless swell- 

 ing will be found to indicate the presence of the foreign body. In 

 such cases we must endeavor by gentle and persevering pressure with 

 the thumb and two next fingers to slide the obstructing substance 

 gradually upward to the pharjmx. To facilitate this it is well to give 

 the animal a half pint of raw linseed or olive oil before the manipu- 

 lations described are commenced. When the substance has been 

 brought into or nearly into the pharynx, then the mouth gag should 

 be used, the tongue drawn partially forward with the left hand, and 

 the right should be passed backward into the pharynx to withdraw 

 the obstruction. AVlien bran or chaff causes the trouble it is best to 

 give a small quantity of oil to lubricate the walls of the gullet and 

 then by gentle and persevering pressure to endeavor to separate and 

 divide the mass and to work it downward toward the stomach. This 

 Avill be assisted by pouring small quantities of oil and water down the 

 animal's throat. It is not advisable to use the probang to push down 

 any soft material, such as oats or chaff, as this generally condenses 

 and renders firmer the obstructing substance by pressing its particles 

 or elements together, so that it forms a solid, resisting mass which can 

 not be moved. 



In some cases, either because located in the chest portion of the 

 esophagus, and so beyond reach, or because too firmly seated, the 

 foreign body can not be dislodged from the neck by pressing and 

 manipulating that part externally. In such an event we must resort 

 to the use of the probang. (PI. Ill, figs. 2 and 3.) A probang is a 

 flexible instrument, and adapts itself to the natural curvature of the 

 gullet, so that if it is used cautiously there is not much risk of injury. 

 Before passing the probang, a gag w^hich has an aperture at each 

 end, from which straps pass to be buckled at the back of the head 

 below the horns, is introduced into the mouth. (PI. Ill, fig. 4.) The 

 probang should then be oiled, and, the head and neck being held in a 

 straight line by two assistants, the tongue must be partly drawn out 

 of the mouth, the probang cautiously passed along the roof of the 

 mouth into the pharynx and thence into the gullet, through which it 

 is passed down. If resistance is met, gentle and continuous pressure 

 must be employed, under the influence of which the agent will gener- 

 ally in a short time pass into the stomach. One must be careful not 

 to pass the probang into the larynx and thence into the windpipe of 

 the cow. An animal may readily be killed in this way. This accident 

 is indicated by efforts to cough and by violently disturbed breathing. 

 If such symptoms arise the probang must be withdrawn at once. To 



