28 



hurried breathing, frequent cough, excessive flow of saliva, sweating, 

 treiiibliug, or siampiug with the fore-feet. The abdomen rapidly dis- 

 tends with gas. The diagnosis is completed by manipulating the upper 

 ■part of the throat from without and by the introduction of the hand 

 into the back part of the mouth, finding the body lodged here. In 

 cervical choke (where the obstruction is situated at any point between 

 the throat-latch and the shoulder) the object can both be seen and felt. 

 The symptoms here are not so severe; the horse will be seen to occa- 

 sionally draw himself uj), arch his neck, and sometimes utter a loud 

 shriek; the expression becomes anxious, and attempts at vomiting are 

 made. Tlie abdomen is mostly full and tympanitic. Should there be 

 any question as to the trouble a decided conclusion may mostly be 

 reached by pouring water into the throat from a bottle. If the ob- 

 struction is complete you can see the gullet Ijecome distended with 

 each bottle of water by standing on the left side of the horse and watch- 

 ing the course of the oesophagus, just above the windpipe. This is not 

 always a sure test, as the obstruction may be an angular body, in 

 which case liquids would pass it. Solids taken would show in these 

 cases; but solids should not, however, be given, as they serve to in- 

 crease the trouble by rendering the removal of the body more difficult. 

 In cervical choke one can always, with a little care, feel the imprisoned 

 object. 



In thoracic choice the symptoms are still less severe. Our attention will 

 be directed to this part of the oesophagus by food or water being ejected 

 through the nose or mouth after the animal has taken a few swallows. 

 There will be some symptoms of distress, fullness of the abdomen, 

 cough, and occasionally the crying or shrieking as heard in cervical 

 choke. The diagnosis is complete if, upon passing the probang (a hol- 

 low, flexible tube made for this purpose), an obstruction is encountered. 



Treatment. — If the choke is at the beginning of the gullet (pharyngeal) 

 we must endeavor to remove the obstacle through the mouth. A 

 mouth-gag or speculum is to be introduced into the mouth to protect 

 the hand and arm of the operator. Then while an assistant, with his 

 hands grasped tightly behind the object, presses it upward and forward 

 with all his force, the operator must pass his hand into the mouth until 

 he can seize the obstruction and draw it outward. This mode of pro- 

 cedure must not be abandoned with the first failure, as we may get the 

 obstacle farther toward the mouth by continued efforts. If we fail 

 with the hand, forceps may be introduced through the mouth and the 

 object seized when it is just beyond the reach of the fingers. Should 

 our efforts entirely fail we must then endeavor to force the obstruction 

 downward by means of the probang. This instrument, which is of such 

 signal service in removing choke in cattle, is decidedly more dangerous 

 to use for the horse, and I can not pass this point without a word of 

 caution to those who have been known to introduce into the horse's 

 throat such objects as whip-stalks, shovel-handles, etc. These are 



