110 THE DISEASES OP THE DOG. 



of some of our patients we do not often have to deal with 

 oesophageal 1 spasm. Bearing in mind these facts, we must 

 Hot resort to extensive manipulation in these cases. An 

 attempt may be made with Arnold's choking forceps (vide 



Fia. 85. — Throat forceps. 



Fig. 35) to remove the foreign body, which will more readily 

 pass upwards than down.* If this does not prove successful 

 a large whalebone probe, used as a probang, may be passed 

 into the oesophagus, and gentle pressure applied with a 

 view to loosening the body from its position, but not with 

 such energy as to lacerate still further the lining mucous 

 membrane. The probe may be sheathed with a pad of 

 tow dipped in oil for lubrication of the passage. CEsopha- 

 goiomy, however, may be freely resorted to in these cases. 

 Experience shows that wounds of the gullet of carnivora 

 heal freely, probably because that organ is seldom put to its 

 utmost degree of tension in the passage of prepared food ; 

 also, be it remembered, that probably in these cases one of 

 the oesophageal coats is already cut through. The operation 

 differs in no . respect from the ordinary method, and it 

 seems that sutures of the oesophageal wound are super- 

 fluous ; after r treatment comprises attention to the external 

 wound and fluid diet for a time.f 



* Mr. Ward lias recorded a case in a bull bitch which simulated dumb mad- 

 ness. There was some submaxillary swelling, and pressure on the base of the 

 tongue with forceps caused escape of pus and blood, but from whence it was 

 not possible to say. In a week's time a needle and cotton came away through 

 the submaxillary abscess. 



t It is to be remarked that fish-bones, needles, and other sharp hard sub- 

 stances not unfrequently pass through the walls of the oesophagus and the. 



