THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, 245 



of the probang while it is being passed, and when the 

 obstruction is reached can be introduced into it by 

 turning the handle; another probang is a stout rope un- 

 perforated, with a cap at each extremity. Sometimes the 

 obstruction becomes perforated, and allows the probang to 

 pass it, and a large body fixed in the cervical portion of 

 the oesophagus, when moved from here, may become fixed 

 in the lower extremity of the tube. These measures failing, 

 we must resort to oesophagotomy. The muzzle of the 

 patient is elevated, and thus the lower part of the neck 

 rendered tense. An assistant is placed on the right side 

 of the animal and required to press on the oesophagus at 

 the seat of obstruction, causing it to bulge towards the 

 left. The impaction serves to separate the neighbouring 

 vessels upwards and downwards, and the oesophagus 

 bulges beneath the skin and a thin layer of muscle. The 

 operator, standing on the left side, makes a clean in- 

 cision on to the body of sufficient length to at once 

 and freely allow its escape. The margins of the oeso- 

 phageal wound are then brought together by catgut 

 sutures, and the external wound similarly closed. The 

 carbolic acid spray may be made to play during the opera- 

 tion, and will materially increase the chance of union by 

 first intention, so desirable in wounds of the oesophagus. 

 The animal must be fed on soft food, which may be 

 injected directly into the rumen through a canula (Dycer) ; 

 or sometimes another method of performing the operation, 

 preferable in many respects, is to simply cut down upon 

 but not into the oesophagus, to endeavour then by gentle 

 manipulation to break down the obstructing body, but if 

 this fails, to insert an extremely fine probe-pointed bistoury 

 through a very small opening and cut in various directions 

 through the body, thus breaking it up, its parts being 

 removed by manipulation as they separate. The advan- 

 tages of this are obvious; it was suggested by French 

 veterinary surgeons. 



In cases of choking, after-treatment is very necessary, 

 for recurrence is frequent. Soft diet must be continued for 

 some time, and the animal kept under strict supervision. 



