172 CANIiXE AND FELINE SURGERY 



of a foreign body firmly impacted in the lower portion of 

 the oesophagus, when it cannot be removed from above (see 

 p. 178), and for the excision of ulcers from the stomach wall. 



Skewers are not at all infrequently met with by the 

 canine practitioner in London and large towns where the 

 horse-tlesh used for dog and cat food is sold in thin slices 

 held together by a wooden skewer. A greedy animal will 

 sometimes bolt the lot intact, especially if there is another 

 dog near ; and the author has removed the offending article 

 from the region of the flank close under the thigh (showing 

 that it must have found its way down the intestine), as well 

 as from between the posterior ribs over the stomach. 



Broken pieces of stick have frequently been removed 

 from the stomach or oesophagus. The author has in his 

 possession the end of a candle-rod, 5j inches long, removed 

 from the oesophageal region of a St. Bernard dog, by Mr. J. 

 Blakeway, F.R.C.V.S.^ Sticks are usually swallowed by 

 puppies or as the result of an accident. 



Stones are often involuntarily swallowed by dogs as a result 

 of the habit which some people have of throwing a stone for 

 a dog to fetch. Sometimes a very large number will be 

 taken, and the author knew of one instance in which an 

 Aberdeen terrier had swallowed no less than 114, mostly 

 sharp flint-stones. The animal showed an arched back, and 

 was, as might be expected, very dull and depressed, but 

 eventually passed them all and made an excellent recovery. 

 In another instance a dog was seen to swallow a peculiar 

 shaped stone on December 13, and the same stone was vomited 

 back in the owner's presence on February 11 following. 



Hatpins have been most commonly met with in kittens. 

 P. J. Simpson recorded one 4-1- inches long {Veterinary 

 Record, vol. xv., p. 409), and J. McCall also recorded one 

 of 7-1 inches long (I'eterinary Record),^ each of which was 



1 Veterinary Journal, vol. Ixi., p. 26. - Vol. \iv., p. 766. 



