164 DISEASES OF THE GULLET. 



tion, in many cases, unless, by means of an exploring needle 

 of any shape, the shell is pricked. It is then not difficult to 

 crack the egg by a blow. 



V. (Esophagotomy. This operation is the last means to 

 be resorted to in ordinary cases of choking; it is one of the first, 

 however, when the gullet is impacted throughout its whole 

 length, or when the obstruction is situated, in the horse, in 

 the chest portion of the gullet. It consists in an incision 

 into the latter so as to evacuate the canal directly through 

 the opening, or in the horse to push along a flexible reed or 

 tube to clear a passage into the stomach. 



When an animal has been relieved, it is expedient to allow 

 it liquids to drink, but no solid food for some time. If a 

 ravenous appetite is observed, an aloetic purge may relieve 

 the animal, and attention must be paid to the food allowed 

 for several days. 



DISEASES OF, AND INJURIES TO, THE GULLET. DILATA- 

 TION OF THE GULLET " OESOPHAGUS VENTEICULOSUS." 



In the horse, remarkable cases of this description are 

 observed. Under the head Vomiting, I have alluded to cases 

 of dilatation occurring near the stomach, and which are 

 characterised by frequently relapsing efforts to vomit. Oc- 

 casionally a general enlargement is observed throughout the 

 whole length of the neck portion of the gullet, and more 

 frequently about two or three inches from the part where 

 the oesophagus enters the chest. The lesion is noticed by 

 the food and liquids swallowed distending the part. The 

 degree of swelling varies, and is always greatest when the 

 animal is feeding. In some cases the enlargement is not 

 greater than a pigeon's egg, and at others it is larger than 

 an infant's head. The absence of any inflammation, the 



