CHOKING. 157 



PHAKYNGEAL POLYPI. 



The pharynx is subject to few special disorders. It 

 is the seat of inflammation in sore throat, a condition 

 which I shall more especially refer to under the head 

 Laryngitis. One of the most common conditions observed 

 in cattle is the production of pendulous tumors or pharyn- 

 geal polypi, which hang from the posterior part of the nose, 

 and sometimes suddenly drop on the larynx and choke the 

 animal. 



The symptoms which these growths produce in the pas- 

 sage between the mouth, nose, gullet, and windpipe, are 

 chiefly efforts to swallow, and obstruction to breathing, with 

 an occasional cough relieved by the animal hanging down its 

 head so as to press the tumour forwards. 



These growths, which are formed from the mucus mem- 

 brane, with areolar tissue as their principal constituent, may 

 be removed by tortion, if discovered. 



CHOKING. 



This is an accident of very common occurrence in herbi- 

 vorous animals, and attended with great danger to life. It is 

 interesting to observe how nature has avoided, in the con- 

 struction of the organs of deglutition, any disposition of parts 

 which might favour choking. This is especially seen in car- 

 nivora. Persons are apt to believe animals are choked when 

 they really are not, and this happens chiefly with dogs. If a 

 dog coughs or indicates any peculiar symptom, he is believed 

 at once to have a bone in his throat. Such an error is often 

 committed with cases of rabies. 



Causes. These are either dependent on the animal itself, 



