76 
CHOKING IN CATTLE. 
9th . — On going to see my patient, I was informed by Mr. B. 
that he had applied to another person, who had told him the cow 
was not choked, and that be could cure her in a few days : he had 
allowed her solid food, &c. “Very well,” said I, and left him. 
1 Oth . — A messenger came to my house and informed me I was 
to go and see Mr. B.’s cow again, that the committee (for the cow 
was in a club) wished me to examine her, and report what I 
thought of her. I took my probang and went to see her, # and 
found her much in the same state she was in a month ago, except- 
ing the rumen was not inflated to the same extent, and the pro- 
bang passed much easier down the throat, appearing, however, to 
perforate a yielding mass at the part affected. From these symp- 
toms, I informed the member of the club, my opinion was that the 
external muscles of the throat had ruptured, and there was a 
pocket formed in it ; that no means could remedy it, and that the 
cow had better at once be slaughtered. To this he consented, and 
she was driven away immediately. On examination after death, 
the muscular fibres of the oesophagus at its lower part, to the ex- 
tent, from the cardiac orifice, of about ten inches up the tube, on the 
lower side, had become completely ruptured. The cuticular coat 
was dilated through the rupture to nearly the same extent, and 
had become transparent from extension, forming a pocket capable 
of holding three pints of fluid, though empty at the time from the 
probang having passed through it. No other part shewed any 
sign of disease. 
Case IV. 
Dec. 6th, 1842, Mr. Robert Wright, of Cherry-tree -hill, sent 
a messenger, desiring me to go to a cow that was choked. I 
took my probang, and proceeded towards the place ; but had not 
gone far when 1 met another messenger, who informed me she 
was better, and I need not go. From this time to Jan. 18th, 1843, 
the same took place three times, so that I did not see the cow 
until that date. The symptoms were much the same as in the 
foregoing cases. I introduced my probang down the throat, but did 
not succeed in passing it into the stomach until after repeated trials, 
in consequence of the presence of an obstruction about six inches 
above that organ. I told Mr. W. I doubted he had neglected his 
cow, and feared there was a pocket formed in the throat, which 
would admit of no cure. I ordered a gruel diet ; and that all litter, 
&c. be taken away from her out of reach during four days ; then 
to give a little mash and hay ; and if she did not go on favourably 
to let me know. 
24 tli . — A messenger arrived, desiring my immediate attendance, 
