Esophagitis. Inflammation of the Gullet. 87 



than the gullet through which they are passed with great 

 rapidity. In some cases, however, the agent will adhere by reason 

 of its powdery, gummy or balsamic character and will then act as 

 a direct irritant. Solutions of caustic alkalies (weak lye) given 

 to correct acid gastric indigestion in the horse, and ammonia to 

 remedy tympany in cattle, when insufficiently diluted, will 

 dangerously attack the cesophagean mucosa. 



Parasitic irritation is not so common here as in other parts of 

 the intestinal canal where the contents are longer delayed and are 

 passed with less friction, yet certain parasites are found in this 

 region and may even produce considerable irritation. The gon- 

 gylonema of the thoracic cesophagean mucosa of ruminants and 

 swine are apparently harmless. The psorospermia of the 

 cesophagean muscles of the same animals are alleged to cause 

 oedema of the glottis, asphyxia and epilepsy. The spiroptera 

 microstoma of the horse has in one instance known to us caused 

 extensive denudation of the muscular coat within a foot of the 

 cardiac end of the gullet. Finally we have found bots hooked 

 on to the cesophagean mucosa close to the cardia, causing much 

 irritation and spasm. The spiroptera sanguinolenta is often 

 present in chambers hollowed in the cesophagean mucosa of the 

 dog, and the sp. strongylina in that of the pig. 



Traumatic causes appear in the form of contusions and bruises 

 from without, but much more frequently from foreign bodies, 

 and probangs operating from within. The use of a whip or of a 

 rope without a cup-shaped end for the relief of a choked animal. 

 Short of the occurrence of laceration this often produces contu- 

 sion and abrasion which results in local inflammation. Even the 

 too forcible dislodgment of a solid body by a probang of approved 

 pattern, may bruise and scratch the gullet when the seat of violent 

 spasm. Pins, needles, wire, thorns and other sharp bodies are 

 liable to do serious damage during their passage in an ordinary 

 bolus and when they transfix the mucosa violent infective in- 

 flammation may ensue. 



Extension inflammations from the throat, and from phlegmons, 

 abscesses, tumors, etc. in the jugular furrow need only be men- 

 tioned in this connection, as the primary disease will be clearly 

 in evidence. 



Lesions. These are usually circumscribed when due to a trau- 



