REVIEW— CATTLE PATHOLOGY. 
695 
purgatives are not indicated. They would be injurious rather than 
beneficial ; but aperient doses of the Epsom salts should be given 
to the extent of eight ounces daily, or sufficient to accom- 
plish the intended purpose. Setons and blisters should soon suc- 
ceed to the poultices. It would not be bad practice to commence 
with the' blisters in a great many cases. The blister or sinapism 
should consist of mustard, with some linseed meal, in preference to 
the cantharides. The mustard is more speedy and effectual ; but 
one thing should be always borne in mind in the treatment of these 
diseases, viz., not to apply the revulsive until the general and local 
inflammation is somewhat abated, and especially in young, sanguine, 
and irritable animals. 
A chapter is devoted to “ Diseases of the CEsophagus,” a subject 
which is very summarily treated by our writers on Cattle Pathology. 
The first division is 
Inflammation of the (Esophagus . 
He remarks that “ the altogether-special structure” of the oeso- 
phagus of ruminants renders it less susceptible of irritation and 
inflammation by means of the substances that are swallowed than 
that of any other animals. It being, almost entirely, fleshy, flabby, 
exceedingly dilatable, and having its mucous membrane covered by 
a thick epithelium, all co-operates to favour the passage of the food, 
and to render this tube almost incapable of receiving injury. It is 
only injured by substances that are accidentally arrested in their 
passage through it, or by injudicious attempts to remove these sub- 
stances, or by external violence, or by its participating in the mala- 
dies of the parts immediately above or below it. 
CEsophagitis may be contemporaneous with or consecutive to in- 
flammation of the stomach. It may exist in a chronic state. The 
dysphagia, which some authors consider as this malady in a chronic 
state, and others, with more reason, as a nervous affection, has been 
hitherto observed in the horse alone. No disease is with so much 
difficulty detected. The animal cannot express, as the human being 
can do, the pungent pain which he may occasionally feel along the 
course of the oesophagus. The difficulty of deglutition may be 
sufficiently visible. The alimentary ball may be seen to stop, after 
having passed into the gullet — it may be rejected by vomit. We 
may be able to ascertain the painful swollen state of the tube at a 
certain part of it, or generally. 
The thirst may be great, notwithstanding the difficulty of deglu- 
tition, and although the liquid may be regurgitated through the 
nostrils and the mouth. The pulse may be full, and accelerated. 
Any, or all of these circumstances, might have arrested the atten- 
