36 SPECIAL EQUINE THEBAPY 



a pathological standpoint, is nothing more than a func- 

 tional disturbance. This does not reduce the gravity of 

 the condition, however, from the practitioner's stand- 

 point. The seriousness of the case Ues mostly in the 

 damage inflicted on the patient by the handling that the 

 case is usually subjected to before the veterinarian's 

 arrival. 



The prognosis in eases of spasmodic choke is always 

 favorable when the patient has not been the subject of 

 malpractice, such as the entrance of whips, traces, broom- 

 sticks and similar objects into the esophagus, at the hands 

 of laymen or empirics. The prognosis becomes unfavor- 

 able in direct proportion to the amount of injudicious 

 interference that has been applied. This is the point that 

 the veterinarian must, by aU means, keep in mind in 

 beginning the handling of a case of choke in the horse. 

 Place the responsibility where it belongs. Understanding 

 the condition fully, as you do, have no regard for the 

 feelings of your client if he has been guilty of any form 

 of malpractice in connection with the case in hand. It 

 is a proved fact, substantiated by abundant clinical evi- 

 dence, that injudicious meddling with a case of choke 

 nearly always results disastrously. The attending veter- 

 inarian should have no scruples against so informing the 

 client that has so committed himself. Undertake the 

 handling of such eases advisedly; promise nothing, and 

 expect nothing. 



Cases of choke in the horse that come into the veter- 

 inarian's hands uncontaminated by ignorant practice 

 can be given a favorable prognosis in almost all in- 

 stances. The exceptions are those few cases in which the 

 condition is due to a structural change, a dilatation or 

 jabot. 



To unconcernedly take in charge a case of choke, with 

 no regard for the handling the case has received before 



