THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXV, 
No. 298. 
OCTOBER, 1852. 
Third Series, 
No. 58. 
LACERATION OF THE (ESOPHAGUS IN A MARE. 
By W. A. Cartwright, M.R.C.V.S., Whitchurch, Salop. 
On Thursday, the 19 th of August, 1852, I was called in to 
attend a half-bred mare, fifteen hands high, the property of 
John Brown, Esq., surgeon of this town, that would not feed. 
It appears, that about five o’clock the previous afternoon, 
the groom attempted to give her a diuretic ball, but failed to 
get but a part of it down. He says, that after he put the 
ball into the mouth with his hand , a good deal of coughing 
came on, which forced it each time back again, except the 
small portion mentioned. 
Symptoms. —Will not eat or swallow anything of her own 
free will; and if she be drenched with a little water, she evinces 
a difficulty in swallowing, even a very small portion of it, and 
has symptoms of choking, drawing her head towards her 
breast and retching, w ith a spasmodic action of the neck, 
endeavouring to force anything out of the oesophagus. When 
left alone and not interfered with, she rarely attempts vomi- 
tion. On carefully examining the throat and course of the 
oesophagus, not the least obstruction or enlargement can be 
felt; nor can I feel anything on introducing my hand up the 
pharynx. Coughs now and then, but not often; respiration 
and pulse natural. There is a slight soreness about the 
throat, but she has not at all the symptoms of “ sore throat” 
or cold. From the symptoms, one is almost led to believe 
that a portion of the ball is sticking either in the pharynx or 
in the oesophagus; and as there are no violent symptoms 
calling for the introduction of the probang, I think it will be 
prudent to leave her alone for awhile, merely supplying her 
with liquid, which she may slop in and swallow. 
From the 19 th to Saturday the 21st, she continued in the 
same state, seeming in no pain except w r hen retching and 
coughing occasionally, but which w r as not often. Pulse and 
vol. xxv. 4 D 
