A CASE OF VOMITION IN A COW. 
189 
The conelusion to which we arrive on the argument before us 
is, that in the black cattle of Scotland, of Ireland, and North 
and South Wales, we have the genuine unmixed descendants of 
the aboriginal race, and that the different breeds now prevailing, 
with various degrees of celebrity, have derived their several pe- 
culiarities of colour from accidental circumstances and the influ- 
ence of crosses introduced from other countries. We shall 
consider the influence which those crosses have had in effecting 
particular characters in different breeds in our next paper. 
A CASE OF VOMITION IN A COW, 
WHICH LASTED SIX WEEKS; CAUSED BY A DILATATION 
OF THE OESOPHAGUS AT ITS INFERIOR EXTREMITY, AND 
TERMINATING FATALLY. 
By Mr. R. Read, F.S., Crediton. 
Mr. Brock, of Westwood Farm, consulted me respecting a 
cow, about the middle of February last, that had vomited her 
food during the previous three weeks, in a greater or smaller 
quantity. He had himself, before he solicited my advice, admi- 
nistered oil and other laxative medicines, but to no good pur- 
pose. The animal had a constant craving for food : she, however, 
seemed lively. The faeces were natural, but small in quantity. 
The chief symptoms were, that, after a little food had been swal- 
lowed, either esculent or herbivorous, an uneasiness, with moan- 
ing, followed, attended by a spasmodic action of the gullet ; and 
then all was again ejected by vomition. She would afterwards 
return to eating, but the same result occurred. Sometimes the 
food would remain down for three or four hours, but the least irri- 
tation about the pharynx excited vomiting. Even in the adminis- 
tering of medicine or gruel the first two or three hornsful were 
always rejected. In order to ascertain the state of the oesophagus 
I had the probang introduced. As soon as it reached the upper 
part of the gullet, vomiting came on, and was repeatedly so 
before the tube could be introduced ; but as soon as the pouch 
was emptied, the probang easily passed on into the stomach. 
Mr. Brock, with a truly liberal spirit, gave up the cow to 
me to pursue what course I pleased with her. It being a case of 
interest, and not quite a mile from the town, Messrs. Jones and 
Vicary, my students, administered every thing to her. Half a 
drachm of Prussic acid was given twice a day, in a pint of cold 
VOL. xvi. c c 
