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OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 101 



Following the operation, keep the animal's head up for a time 

 and feed him on milk and water. 



OESOPHAGISMUS. 



Oesophagismus is a spasmodic condition of the oesophagus. 

 It is a functional condition purely nervous. You can see the 

 effects, but you cannot foresee the condition. Usually the spasms 

 subside after a few minutes. 



It is caused by something being swallowed that irritates the 

 nerves, and produces spasmodic contraction upon the bolus. In 

 view of this never give a dry ball, always wet it. 



In order to remove the obstruction put the fingers at the bot- 

 tom below it and move it up towards the mouth. If the obstruc- 

 tion will not dislodge, you may have a case of choke. 



Sometimes coachmen get the idea that raw eggs will make 

 the horse's coat glossy. They even send them down whole, shell 

 and all. This frequently causes choke. Oesophagismus is a 

 symptom of choke. But if the cause of the irritation is in the 

 thorax, there will be little eating and then vomition. The food 

 may be streaked with blood. 



Treatment. — Give a liberal dose of morphine. This blunts 

 the nerves. When the animal is thoroughly under the influence 

 of the drug, then give two or three doses of cottonseed oil. If 

 the oesophagus does not relax, the animal will regurgitate the 

 contents of the oesophagus. Then pass a probe and push the 

 obstruction on into the stomach. Do not wait until the inflam- 

 mation starts up before doing this. 



CHOKING. 



Definition. — Choking is obstructed deglutition by the inter- 

 rupted passage of any substance from the mouth to the stomach. 

 The regions of choke are divided into three sections, cervical, 

 thoracic and cardiac. 



£h'o/o(7y.— Horses may choke on dry feed. They are raven- 

 ous eaters— they bolt their food without proper insalivation. 

 Cows usually choke on pieces of apples, potatoes, carrots, sec- 



