232 
CHOKING IN CATTLE. 
time I had my own tube brought, and, screwing on the largest size 
end, I succeeded in removing the obstruction in a moment. My 
opinion is, that the first tube used was too small, and that it did not 
sufficiently expand the caliber of the canal, but allowed the throat 
to gather in folds, thus acting a? a barrier to the passage of the 
obstructing substance into the paunch. 
I have also an end or knob belonging to my tube cut obliquely 
across, which I find will often remove a substance in the throat when 
the round or cup-like end will not. The body, I conclude, must then 
have been transversely across the gullet, when the oblique end, 
having a greater side force in pushing on the substance, it very soon 
gives way, and relief is obtained. 
With due submission to my readers, I will now detail, as clearly 
as I can, and from the results of hundreds of cases, the symptoms, 
treatment, and its sequelae ; beginning first with the method of se¬ 
curing the animal, and arranging the assistants. 
Let a rope with a running noose be thrown over the head of the 
animal, behind the horns; bring the long end in front, and affix it 
to the beam of the cow-house, Ox, if in a turnip field, to the nearest 
gate-post. Let one assistant hold the animal by the nose and one 
end of the mouth-piece ; another by the horn and the other part of 
the handle of the mouth-piece. After buckling the leather strap be¬ 
hind the horns, let the head of the cow or ox be so loose that you 
may be able to raise or depress it at your will: you will then 
have every thing ready to commence. 
Symptoms .—Violent husking—forcible contraction of the abdo¬ 
minal muscles to expel the offending body—spasmodic action of the 
muscles of deglutition—the neck drawn up in the form of an arch— 
the head a little raised—the nose poked out—issuing of ropy mucus 
from the mouth and nose—frequent dribbling of urine and expul¬ 
sion of fmces. As the rumen becomes distended, so the tongue is 
thrust out, and the eyes weep. 
Treatment .—As soon as you are called to a case of this kind, 
let half a pint of oil be horned down: if this cannot be obtained, 
melt a little lard, which I think is preferable. Dip the end of your 
tube into it, stand in front of the animal, pass the instrument along 
the roof of the mouth, and it will with little trouble pass into the 
oesophagus. When it has reached the obstructing body, use firm 
and moderate pressure, and no more; alternately raise and depress 
the head, if it does not easily pass. Wait; be not impatient; as 
the longer it remains the softer it gets. When you again try, you 
as well as your employer will be surprised to see how quick it is 
removed : impatience has been the means of killing scores. 
A bullock once choked and relieved, will choke himself again in 
ten minutes, if the turnips or other roots are not removed, a case 
