6 
SACCULOUS DILATATION OF THE CESOFHAGUS. 
prominent part, commencing it a little above and carrying 
it down a little below the affected part. I next cut through 
the muscular textures. Separating the edges of this long 
wound exposed to view a large irregularly-shaped body, pale 
in colour and soft. I then traced either termination of this 
body, and found it continuous both above and below, with a 
substance which we readily recognised as the oesophagus. 
Proceeding with the operation, I cut through the thin 
parietes of this oesophageal dilatation from its upper to its 
lower extreme limits. Next I emptied the sac, and gathered 
from it about one quart of solid finely-masticated vegetable 
matter. We carefully examined the sac, and found just at 
its inferior extremity a contraction, which I divided. Con- 
tinuing our exploration of the internal surface of this cavity, 
we found the mucous membrane thin, with many cicatrisa- 
tions, doubtless the result of former injuries. Afterwards, I 
removed two portions of the sac, about three inches long and 
two wide, in the centre. On examining the exterior of this 
dilatation, we found only traces of pale muscular fibre re- 
maining to represent the well-defined muscular tissue of a 
healthy oesophagus. We found the muscular textures like- 
wise all around this part very much wasted : doubtless owing 
to the continued pressure, as well probably to the new kind 
of action they had taken on. In order to ascertain, as far as 
possible, whether there were any more diseased parts along 
the course of the tube, I passed through the wound a 
probang down the oesophagus into the stomach. It passed 
freely ; but as soon as it had (judging by the length which 
had disappeared) fairly entered the stomach, it excited violent 
efforts to vomit; and a considerable quantity of liquid passed 
up through the hollow probang, but none betwixt the pro- 
bang and the coats of the oesophagus. I thought, with Mr. 
Howit, that the wound was better without sutures, since the 
animal must for a time be fed through the wound. Having 
now concluded our operation, I had the hobbles taken off, 
and allowed the animal to rise, and then removed him to a 
comfortable box. 
I fed him twice a day during nineteen days with the 
stomach pump, through the w T ound, with fine bran oatmeal 
and warm water, which he appeared to enjoy, as he kept his 
jaws in almost continual motion during the whole feeding- 
time. He lost very little flesh on this mixture of food. 
Once a day I allowed him a pail of warm water, which he 
always drank ; and, by holding the sides of the wound firmly 
together, he was enabled to pass a small quantity of the 
water on to the stomach, though the greater part escaped by 
