Catarrhal Laryngitis in the Horse. 127 



trachea, immediately above the opening and effectually prevents 

 any displacement of the tube. 



In operating the animal is kept standing with the head as nearly 

 as possible in the natural position. The hair is removed from the 

 skin beneath the windpipe between the middle and upper thirds 

 of the neck. The skin having been rendered tense (without dis- 

 placement) by the fingers and thumb of the left hand, an incision 

 is made in the median line from above downwards, for about two 

 inches and is carried through the muscles so as to expose two 

 rings of the trachea. The needle and thread are passed through 

 the membrane connecting the two rings, and with the knife a 

 semicircular piece of cartilage is cut from each of the two adjacent 

 rings. The thread in the connecting membrane prevents them 

 from being drawn in by the rush of air. It only remains to in- 

 troduce the tube and fix it in position. 



Not only does tracheotomy obviate immediate danger of suffo- 

 cation, but by removing the source of irritation in the continuous 

 and forcible rush of air through the narrowed and inflamed tube, 

 and in securing for the blood a freer aeration and a purer con- 

 stitution it often induces a rapid change for the better in the 

 character of the inflammatory action. The wound may be daily 

 cleansed and dressed with sodium hyposulphite. 



Some veterinarians following the example of Bretonneau and 

 Trousseau have treated sore throat from the first by what is called 

 the abortive treatment. For this purpose a long whalebone probe 

 with a pledget of tow firmly attached to its end and covered with 

 powdered alum is introduced through the mouth into the pharynx 

 and larynx even. Violent paroxysms of coughing are induced, ' 

 but cures are affected in from two to five days. Under Delafond's 

 treatment calves and foals recovered in twenty-four hours. A 

 more modern method is to inject a solution by means of a hypo- 

 dermic syringe inserted between the upper rings of the trachea. 



Milder treatment such as the inhalation for an hour several 

 times a day, of the fumes of burning sulphur and water vapor 

 will be found generally successful. The air should be impreg- 

 nated with sulphur fumes only so far as can be breathed without 

 inducing coughing on the part of the patient. Such measures 

 should not divert attention from the necessity for general care, a 

 control of diet, clothing, air, the state of the bowels, nor from 

 local external applications to the throat. 



