108 THE DISEASES OP THE DOG. 



bowels are about five times the length of the body, one 

 fifth being " large." They are simple (have no muscular 

 bands or sacculi), the large and small differ little in size ; 

 the glands are well developed, the caecum resembles the 

 finger of a glove and is somewhat spirally twisted on 

 itself, more so in some cases than in others. Tho wall of 

 the rectum presents on each side a sinus of Morgagni, 

 a glandular pouch from which a dark-coloured fetid matter 

 is poured. The bowels of the dog are, therefore, short, 

 straight, uniform in calibre throughout, simple as regards 

 their shape, but composed of well-developed, highly organ- 

 ised structures. 



Diseases and accidents of the (Esophagus : Stricture is 

 sometimes seen as a result of injury to the lining mem- 

 brane by bones or other hard bodies passing to the stomach, 

 also after severe cases of choking, and as a result of the 

 ravages of parasites (Filaria sanguinolenta) . It is de- 

 noted by frequent slight attacks of choking, relieved 

 spontaneously. Its ill effects may be palliated by soft, 

 well-prepared food only being given. It is a serious matter 

 in sporting dogs and others which require high feeding. 



Choking. — -The large size of the oesophagus enables 

 masses of flesh, skin, and other such matters to pass freely 

 into the stomach because the dog naturally bolts his food. 

 Thus obstruction and mischief from foreign bodies is very 

 often seen in the orifices of the stomach and in the 

 bowels. Sometimes, however, sharp articles or those of 

 an irregular shape become stopped in their passage through 

 the gullet and give rise to choking. The pharyngeal 

 orifice is sometimes the seat of impediment. The sym- 

 ptoms are not so urgent as in most other animals ; there is 

 obstruction to the passage of food, frequent attempts to 

 regurgitate (which might be mistaken for vomiting), evi- 

 dent discomfort of the animal, cough, free flow of saliva, 

 and perhaps some external swelling. Anything which is 

 large enough to cause obstruction by its bulk will produce 

 swelling visible to the eye, but small sharp objects become 

 fixed by penetration of the walls of the oesophagus. In 

 choking of the dog we therefore generally have some 



