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CASE OF LACERATION OF THE CESOPHAGUS. 
By Charles Marson, M.R.C.V.S., Hertford. 
A few weeks since my opinion was asked respecting a 
cow, said to be choked. Upon making inquiries as to the 
cause of the owner’s suspicions, I was informed that the 
animalhad been feedingupon Swede turnips, and that a portion 
of turnip had become fixed in her “wizzen,” (oesophagus;) 
and that a cowman, a reputed hand in such matters, had 
been called in, who had pushed the piece of turnip some 
distance down the throat. 
The poor animal I found, on my arrival, to present the 
symptoms which usually are seen in cases of laceration of 
the oesophagus; they were as follows: Head protruded; 
nostrils expanded, and eyes protruding from their sockets ; 
the breathing laboured and heavy, accompanied with moan- 
ing ; neck also stretched straight out and stiff. The abdomen 
was distended with gas, and the whole of the upper 
part of the body, from the setting on of the tail to the ears 
was emphysematous ; the neck was particularly so, and espe- 
cially in a line with the oesophagus. When an attempt was 
made to move the animal, she staggered and was near falling. 
Feeling convinced that the oesophagus was lacerated, I gave 
it as my opinion that there was not the least chance of the 
animal’s recovery, and that, in fact, she had better be destroyed 
or she would soon die. This advice was immediately acted 
upon, and upon my laying bare the oesophagus, a rent was 
found in it from four to four and a half inches long. Every 
coat was torn asunder, the edges of the laceration being very 
ragged. A few inches below the lower end of the rent, a 
small piece of the wooden bulb of the instrument which had 
been used was found. It was covered with coagulated blood. 
A little further on a square piece of turnip was still fixed in the 
oesophagus. It appears that the man had tried his probang, 
which was made of cane, and tipped with a wooden bulb, twice. 
Upon the second trial, as I should imagine, he had not 
secured the animal’s head in a proper position, and forcing 
away, as many of these persons do, more like loading a 
cannon than anything else, thrust the instrument completely 
through the coats of the oesophagus. 
As it was supposed that the obstruction was removed, some 
water was horned down the animal’s throat, but which of 
course was not properly deglutated, but passed through the 
laceration. Not only Avas no relief obtained, but the owner 
