432 DISEASES OF DIGESTION. 



Choking. 



This term applies to obstruction of the gullet as well as to that 

 of the windpipe. 



Choking is usually caused by the horse ravenously swallowing 

 a quantity of dry food, which becomes impacted in his gullet ; 

 or by pieces of carrots or other roots, eggs (given by the groom 

 with the idea of improving his condition), or hard physic balls, 

 sticking in the gullet. It is not uncommon for draught horses to 

 become choked on being started off when they have food in their 

 mouths. In this case, the windpipe becomes pressed between the 

 collar and the bolus of food in the gullet. Sometimes the horse 

 becomes choked in draught, on account of too small a collar com- 

 pressing tile windpipe. The same thing may happen when casting 

 an animal with ropes. The necessary precautions are too obvious 

 for detail. 



Although obstruction of the windpipe will kill in three or four 

 minutes, that of the gullet may not prove fatal for several days. 1 

 saw an instance of choking that became spontaneously relieved 

 after ninety-six hours of complete obstruction, during which 

 time any food or dRnk taken was returned through the nostrils ; 

 the cause of obstruction being a physic ball. The destructive 

 changes set up by the presence of the ball for such a long period 

 in the gullet, caused the death of the animal in about three 

 months' time. 



As the gullet is immediately above the windpipe for about half- 

 way down the neck, and then take^ its place on the left of the 

 windpipe till it enters the chest ; stand on the left of the animal to 

 see if anything goes down the gullet. This tube becomes a little 

 narrowed near its entrance into the stomach. 



SYMPTOMS OF OBSTRUCTION OF THE GULLET.— Very 

 anxious expression of the face and great distress. Nose generally 

 poked out, and neck more or less stiff. Flow of saliva from the 

 mouth. Inability, more or less complete, to swallow. Fluids re- 

 turned through the nostrils, and sometimes through the mouth. If 

 grass be chewed, the discharge from the nostrils will, during that 

 time be green-coloured. Attempts at vomiting. Continued dis- 

 tension of the gullet is an unerring sign of obstruction, and, when 

 present, will be seen chiefly on the left side. 



TREATMENT. — No time should be lost in attempting to re- 

 move the obstruction ; for the continued presence of the foreign 



