132 DISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS 



the pharynx; at the lower extremity of the cervical portion 

 at its entrance to the thorax; or near the cardiac orifice (at 

 this point the lumen of the esophagus is less than at any 

 other place along its course). Owing to the habit of these 

 animals of taking food in large pieces and without mastica- 

 tion the majority of the obstructions occur just posterior to 

 the pharynx. However, sharp bodies may be found anywhere 

 along its course. In the dog a great variety of substances 

 have been found producing the obstruction, as these animals 

 during eating or at play swallow many substances that would 

 not be found in other animals. The most common substances 

 which are liable to produce the obstruction in dogs are: 

 Bones, cartilage, hard food masses, pieces of tendon, needles, 

 rubber balls, meat skewers, stones, etc. In cats fish bones 

 are frequently found which they get from eating scraps of 

 fish given them without removing the bones. As a rule fish 

 bones lodge in the anterior portion of the esophagus just 

 behind the pharynx. Young kittens while playing occa- 

 sionally attempt to swallow threaded needles, or pins which 

 lodge at some point along the esophageal wall. Large bodies 

 when indefinitely retained often produce a pressure necrosis 

 with perforation of the walls. 



Symptoms.— The early symptoms are those of refusing 

 food, pain during swallowing, paroxysms of choking with 

 retching and in some cases vomiting, salivation, and scratch- 

 ing at the mouth and neck. The head is held extended, the 

 respirations become labored, and the patient evinces severe 

 pain. In cats the mouth is held open, there is profuse saliva- 

 tion, and when the foreign body has penetrated the walls 

 severe nervous symptoms are produced. The foreign body 

 when located in the cervical portion of the esophagus will at 

 once be recognized by the painful swelling which appears 

 along its course, especially in the case of large objects. There 

 is frequently edema of the surrounding tissues which may 

 extend for some distance from the point of injury. Palpation 

 usually reveals the size and character of the obstruction. 

 Often when the objects are located just posterior to the 

 pharynx by opening the mouth and pulling the tongue well 

 forward they can be seen or felt with the finger. In cats, 



