362 THK MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



with forceps. An ingenious instrument for this purpose is 

 sold by Arnold and Sons, London. (See Fig. 39.) 



When, however, the substance is too low for extraction, a 

 whalebone probe, having a portion of sponge fastened on the 

 end and dipped in oil, may be gently passed down to the ob- 

 struction and then steadily pushed onwards. Before, how- 

 ever, attempting this measure, it is advisable to manipulate 

 externally with the fingers, as the substance may be of such 

 a nature that external pressure may break it down and facili- 

 tate its onward passage. Pins, needles, and other sharp 

 substances may be removed by moving the probe about, ro- 

 tating it, and then withdrawing it. 



Considerable irritation often ensues after choking, and 

 when the lining membrane of the oesophagus has been lacer- 

 ated, a great degree of inflammatory action is sure to follow ; 

 to subdue both, and act as local sedative, warm bread and milk 

 and broths should for some days afterwards form the sole 

 diet of the animal. 



CESOPHAGOTOMY. 



This operation is sometimes necessary, when the means 

 named in the previous section for relief in choking have 

 failed. Mr. A. E. Macgillivary, V.S., Banff, records a case 

 recently, in which oesophagotomy was performed by a medical 

 gentleman : — " The animal being properly and conveniently 

 secured on a table, was put under chloroform, and Dr. J. C. 

 Hirschfeld operated. After making a pretty large cuticular 

 incision, and cutting cautiously through the subjacent dermal 

 muscle, the doctor dissected down between the sterno-maxil- 

 lary and mastoido-humeral muscles of the left side, and thus 

 on to the obstructed oesophagus behind the trachea ; and 

 here it may be remarked that this was the more easily accom- 

 plished, owing to the absence in the dog of the omo or sub- 

 scapulo-hyoidean muscle, which passes (partly crosswise) 

 along the outside of the trachea. Having arrived at and laid 

 bare the obstructed part of the gullet, a pretty free incision 



