CHOKINa. 435 



As the gullet is immediately above the windpipe for about half- 

 way down the neck, and then takes its place on the left of the 

 windpipe till it enters the chest ; we should stand on the left of the 

 animal when we want to see if anything goes down the gullet. 

 This tube becomes a little narrowed near its entrance into the 

 stomach. 



SYMPTOMS OF OBSTRUCTION OF THE GULLET.— Very 



anxious expression of face and great distress. Nose generally 

 poked out, and neck more or less stiff. Flow of saliva from the 

 mouth. Inability, more or less complete, to swallow. Fluids re- 

 turned through the nostrils, and sometimes through the mouth. If 

 grass be chewed, the discharge from the nostiils will, during that 

 time, be green-coloured. Attempts at vomiting. Continued dis- 

 tension of the gullet is an unerring sign of obstruction, and, 

 wiien present, will be seen chiefly on the left side. 



TREATMENT. — No time should be lost in attempting to remove 

 the obstruction ; for the continued presence of the foreign body 

 may give rise to serious complications, such as sloughing of the 

 mucous membrane at the seat of impaction, and inflammation of 

 the lungs from the entrance of fluid and other matters into the 

 windpipe. If the offending substance be within reach, it should be 

 removed by the hand; while an assistant presses it forward with 

 his fingers. If it be too far down for this to be done, it may 

 be ''started" by gently manipulating the gullet. When an egg 

 sticks fast, it can be readily broken by pressure, if a stout needle 

 be first of all run through it from the outside. In the case of 

 obstruction due to dry food, it is well to give a few drenches of 

 oil and water, while allowing the animal full liberty to return 

 the fluid, which will assist in removing the obstruction. In ad- 

 ministering drenches with this object, we must remember that they 

 are apt to '' go the wrong way," and thus give rise to pneumonia. 

 If practicable, we should, as advised by McGavin, pass the point of 

 a fine syringe (intra-tracheal or hy]3odermic) into the impacted 

 mass, and try to break it up by injecting into it oil or water. We 

 should let the patient have a constant supply of linseed tea or 

 water to sip, and to return through his nostrils if he likes. If 

 the horse is quiet, we may twitch him, and then pass a probang 

 through his mouth into his gullet, so as to overcome the stoppage ; 

 great care being taken not to shove the probang into the wind- 

 pipe. In default of a regular probang, we can use a male catheter, 

 a flexible driving whip with a soft round head, fixed on to its 

 point, or even a piece of rope " served " round with twine to make 

 it stiff and smooth. If the animal is difficult to handle, he may be 



28* 



