73 
CASE OF CHOKING IN A MAKE. 
By J. Brown, Y.S. 
On Friday evening, Nov. 24, 1854, a grey mare, the pro- 
perty of a cowkeeper, became choked with grains and hay. 
She was a very voracious feeder, and the owner had in- 
cautiously put some hay into the rack, and some grains 
into the manger at the same time. The mare first pulled 
out some of the hay from the rack, but before she had 
swallowed it she took a mouthful of the grains, which 
mixing with the hay formed a pellet too large for her to 
deglutate. The owner, by the advice of a bystander, thrust 
the large end of a cart whip violently down her throat several 
times, which not removing the obstruction, she was brought 
to me. There w r as now a great swelling of the neck and throat, 
accompanied with much difficulty of breathing, and frequent 
eructations. I first endeavoured to remove the obstruction 
by passing my hand as far back into the mouth as I could, 
but not succeeding, I introduced a small probang down the 
oesophagus, and was enabled to get rid of the offending mass. 
I afterwards horned down some warm water, and ordered 
the throat and neck to be fomented, and the animal to be kept 
from food for a time, and then to be fed only on soft or suc- 
culent matters. The next day all went on satisfactorily until 
the evening, when the owner, being pleased with seeing her 
doing so well, thought he would indulge her with a little hay 
and chaff, contrary to my orders. At eight o’clock on the follow- 
ing morning (Sunday) I was again requested to see the patient. 
There was now so much swelling of the head and throat that 
she could not swallow anything, and scarcely breathe. I 
thought it a hopeless case, believing that great injury must 
have been done to the oesophagus from the violence which 
had been used. I ordered the parts, however, to be well 
fomented with warm water, and afterwards a large poultice to 
be applied over the neck and throat. At two o’clock I again 
saw her; she was lying down, and seemed easier, and 
breathed with less difficulty. At six o’clock in the evening J 
was once more sent for ; the swelling had greatly increased, 
and was very hard, and the breathing much more difficult. I 
proceeded immediately to open the trachea, which gave her 
almost instantaneous relief. Subsequently a tube was placed 
in the opening, and fastened round the neck with a tape to 
prevent its ejection. The mare being so much better 1 left 
for the night. From this time she went on improving 
xxviii. 10 
