The Operation for Roaring. 157 



pharynx and larynx, any food or water which might chance 

 to pass into the latter a few days after the operation falls 

 directly through the opening, instead of finding its way 

 into the lungs. 



For a few days, the horse does not seek to eat or drink 

 much. Indeed, it is better not to give food or water for 

 two or three days, as swallowing is not easy, and is, besides, 

 not favourable to the earlier stage of the healing process. 

 A small quantity of water may be allowed at first, being 

 offered in a bucket placed on the floor. Some of this may 

 escape through the external wound, but none passes down 

 the trachea. When water can be swallowed, sloppy mash 

 of bran and oatmeal may be given — still in a bucket on 

 the floor ; and in a day or two after, good soft hay. 



It is advisable not to have any litter in the box, for 

 sanitary reasons, and also because the horse may eat it, if 

 it be straw ; while it may get into the wound and cause 

 trouble. In the course of a fortnight or three weeks, the 

 horse may be fed in the usual way on the ordinary diet. 



The dangers to be apprehended are traumatic pneumonia, 

 pyaemia, oedema of the larynx, and excessive granulation 

 and tumour formation at the seat of operation. 



With regard to oedema, a certain amount of inflammatory 

 infiltration must take place after such an operation ; but it 

 ought not to cause inconvenience, and should in no way 

 embarrass the respiration, as it is present for only a short 

 time, and the laryngo-tracheal wound permits the free 

 admission of a sufficiency of air. 



The intra-laryngeal wound need not be examined closely 

 until about the eighth day; though the external wound 

 should be cleaned frequently — twice or thrice a day^with 

 a soft sponge, and dressed with a mild antiseptic lotion. A 

 good criterium, as to the condition of the internal wound 

 is afforded by that of the external one. If in the latter 

 the Efranulations are small and firm, then in the former 

 they will generally be found the same ; but if they are soft 



