CATTLE PATHOLOGY. 
57 
advanced rapidly, and we augmented the quantity and consistence 
of the panada. On the 15th day after the operation the fluid did 
not escape in more than a straw-stream from the wound. I then 
offered her a few cabbage-leaves cut small, which she readily 
swallowed. 
** On the 20th day no fluid escaped from the wound, and the 
patient began to ruminate slowly and in small quantities, for we 
had begun to give her a little after-grass. With all requisite pre¬ 
caution she was then permitted to return to her usual food, and, 
at the expiration of a month, the cure was complete. This narra¬ 
tive proves that, in cases of rupture or wounds of the oesophagus, 
the parts will unite and cicatrize without the suture recommended 
by old writers.” 
We acknowledge that this interesting case does prove the pos¬ 
sibility of the divided edges of the oesophagus spontaneously 
uniting after very considerable laceration; but would they not 
unite more readily and more perfectly if they were carefully brought 
as nearl}^ as possible into apposition, and retained there by proper 
sutures 1 We should very much fear that the uniform caliber 
of the oesophagus would be seldom retained v/hen the union be¬ 
tween the divided edges was suffered to take place thus at hap¬ 
hazard. We should, in the majority of cases, have some incon¬ 
venient degree of contraction, and occasionally the ocsophagean 
canal almost impervious; but by the union of the divided edges 
through the medium of a suture we should have a more rapid and 
uniform cicatrix, in very few cases attended by any great con¬ 
traction of the gullet, or, at all events, by none which by the use 
of our improved probangs we could not easily remedy. Much, 
however, will depend on the direction of the scissure. If it be in 
a direction parallel with the fibres of the gullet, the divided edges 
may unite without a suture; but if it is transverse or oblique, the 
use of a suture is imperiously required. The prudent operator 
will seldom or never omit its use. 
When describing the singular substances which are sometimes 
found in the oesophagus and rumen of cattle, M. Gelle refers to 
the presence of a snake in tlie gullet causing extreme annoyance 
to a coAV. The author of the work on “ Cattle” has given an 
account of this, and has hinted at another case which M. Gelle 
describes at length: “ A cow five years old, as she was driven to 
pasture, seized a leathern glove, Avhich the gardener employed in 
trimming the hedge had forgotten. She ground it with her teeth 
as well as she could, and swallowed it, in despite of the efforts of 
a young lad who lookcnl after her, and who entlcavoured to drag it 
from her nioutli. She soon afterwards Ijccame uneasy, and redused 
her food. She was led into the stable, and the owner gave her 
