DISEASES OF THE ŒSOPHAGUS. 



45 



pouchj and other advised means of treatment (fumigations, revul- 

 sive applications upon the parotid region, etc.) have always been 

 unsuccessful. 



DISEASES OP THE ŒSOPHAGUS. 



Diseases of the œsophagus are rare and hard to diagnosticate in 

 our different domestic species. Some of these diseases, particularly 

 obstruction by foreign bodies and œsophageal obstruction, belong 

 to the domain of surgery. Inflammation, dilatation, contractions, 

 ruptures, spasm, and paralysis of the œsophagus only, will be 

 dwelt upon here. 



1. Inflammation of the Œsophagus : Œsophagitis. 



We distinguish a catarrhal, phlegmonous, parenchymatous, and 

 a peri-œsophagitis, according to the seat of inflammation : upon 

 the mucous membrane, or in the submucous connective tissue, the 

 muscular, or the peri-œsophageal connective tissue. The last three 

 forms are ordinarily produced by foreign bodies or traumatisms. 



Etiology. Catarrhal œsophagitis sometimes accompanies pha- 

 ryngitis ; in certain cases it is symptomatic of a general disease 

 (bovine pest, aphthous fever, scab-rot), or of a tumor of the 

 œsophagus ; it can also be produced in the dog by parasites ; by 

 Spiroptera sanguinolenta (Bruckmuller, Johne). Caustic substances 

 occasionally produce catarrhal œsophagitis, or even croupous, as 

 observed in the ox after administration of ammonia for tympanites. 

 Very hot drinks may also produce an œsophagitis, by their local 

 action upon the œsophagus. 



Pathological anatomy. We find hyperemia and an abundant 

 epithelial proliferation in the catarrhal form ; exudation upon 

 other inflamed mucous membranes is wanting. Chronic catarrhs 

 are characterized by a particular tendency to papillary hyper- 

 trophy. The special disposition of the œsophageal mucous mem- 

 brane explains this exception to the rule. Its structure is very 

 similar to that of the skin ; Schiitz has thoroughly studied it in 

 the ox. In fact, it possesses an epidermis, a Malpighian network, 

 papillae, and a basement membrane supporting them. Therefore 

 there is nothing surprising in the similarity of these alterations to 



