10 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



We believe that, in addition to the resistance offered 

 to vomition by the cardia, the contraction of the 

 oesophagus (at least, the posterior half of it) materially 

 assists in preventing anything passing along it in the 

 reverse direction, for we always find that where dilatation 

 of the cardia has occurred so as to allow vomition that the 

 oesophagus is likewise dilated and its walls are flaccid. 



On examining a stomach and oesophagus after death, 

 in a case where vomiting has occurred during life, we 

 find the parts flaccid and easily dilatable ; the fingers 

 may be introduced with freedom into the cardia, the 

 lining membrane of the oesophagus is no longer in 

 apposition, and on dividing the gullet for the purpose of 

 removing the stomach, no matter how far forward it 

 is cut, the fluid contents of the viscus (that is if this 

 organ be entire) will pour out. In a case of epilepsy 

 which occurred in my practice, I found after death, 

 although there had been no vomiting during life, the 

 cardia and oesophagus in this condition. The cardiac 

 and pyloric orifice of the stomach are not far apart ; the 



become gradually obliterated. (2) A Middle Plans. — The fibres of 

 this are again a continuation of the muscular coverings of the 

 oesophagus — viz., of its circular coat. Running beneath the fibres 

 of the superficial plane, it also envelops the whole of the left sac. 

 Where the fibres of the superficial plane become indistinct in the 

 positions of the lesser curvature and the pyloric end of the right 

 sac, they appear on the surface, and are there plainly visible, 

 aggregating themselves at the pylorus to form the pyloric sphincter. 

 (3) A Deep Plane. — These fibres run somewhat obliquely in the 

 direction of the long axis of the organ, wholly covering the left 

 sac, and leaving the right sac free. Its fibres closely embrace, in 

 the manner of a cravat, the neck, the left side of the oesophagus at a 

 point where it enters the stomach, but leaves the right side of that 

 canal (the portion situated within the lesser curvature) devoid of 

 fibres altogether. — H. C. R. 



