136 LACERATION OF THE ESOPHAGUS IN A COW. 
the owner to have the cow slaughtered : but as her condition 
precluded the prospect of selling her advantageously, it was 
deemed expedient to risk the chances of recovery, especially as 
she was young and in calf. Under these circumstances, my 
brother, who resides in that locality, was consulted. On his ar- 
rival, he gave but little hopes of recovery, seeing she was to so 
great a degree debilitated. A stimulant was administered, and 
an incision, about seven inches in length, was made in the most 
depending part of the swelling, through which more than a 
quarter of a peck of food was removed from between the 
muscles. The wound being now held open, and a candle 
placed in front, the rupture of the esophagus became quite ap- 
parent. It proved full three inches in length. The wound was 
cleaned. A common side-saddle was placed upon her back, and 
fastened on with a girth in the usual manner ; a small sized piece 
of ash-wood was shaved so as to render it pliable at one end. 
The large end was then tied to the crupper-loop of the saddle, 
and passed then between the pummels, which kept it in its 
place, arid elevated it half way along the neck. The esophagus 
at this part being rather deep seated within the loose fleshy part 
of the dewlap, it was not convenient to pass sutures through the 
edges of the laceration. A pledget of tow dipped in some 
digestive was put into the wound, and pressed against the rup- 
tured part. A pad of flannel was then placed over the outside, 
and a broad bandage, with some thin but flat pieces of wood 
sewn to it, to prevent its becoming too narrow. This was carried 
round and over the stick above the neck, which, being pliable, 
acted as a spring that kept a moderate but equal pressure as 
she moved the head up and down. She was mainly supported 
upon gruel, made of barley, and bean and wheat flour ; but in 
addition occasionally was allowed a little green food. Tonics 
and stimulants were administered. Any food that accumulated 
in the wound was removed, and it was regularly dressed twice 
a-day. Three weeks after, she calved a live calf; but, from the 
weakness before parturition, she became so reduced as to re- 
quire assistance to get up for a short time. I went home from 
College on the 6th of May. On the 8th I saw her myself. 
There was then a small circular opening leading into the 
esophagus, sufficiently large to admit the finger, which was pre- 
vented healing by the frequent escape of food. The edges of the 
wound were thickened, and apparently healed over. They were 
occasionally scarified, with the view of promoting cicatrization; 
for it was my opinion, that, should the wound heal, it would 
leave a stricture in that part of the tube, and consequently 
render the animal susceptible of becoming again choked. The 
food continued to pass more or less through the opening, until 
