546 LACERATION OF THE (ESOPHAGUS IN A MARE. 
respiration perfectly free. This day I introduced a sheep 
probang, which I found did not pass so freely as I could wish, 
though at length it went down one third of the neck. When 
drenching her with a little gruel, it sets her to retch and 
vomit, and I fancy I can see some of it pass down the oeso¬ 
phagus, and that afterwards it gurgles up and down as if it 
could not pass into the stomach ; but of this latter I am not 
certain, as it may be merely spasm of the oesophagus. Give 
her at intervals olive oil to lubricate the throat, and move 
the bowels. I believe some of this goes down. 
21st to Tuesday the 24th.—1 see very little difference in 
her aspect or symptoms, even from the first of her being 
taken ill; though of course she is growing weaker. Seeing 
no amendment, and believing that there was some obstruc¬ 
tion in the oesophagus or pharynx, I had her cast, so as to 
have her more steady, in order to introduce my hand into the 
latter, and a large probang down the former. I could not 
detect anything at the top of the gullet; I therefore tried the 
large probang, but could not push it scarcely past the 
pharynx. I then tried the small probang. Even this I 
could not get to pass without moving it quietly in every 
direction : in this manner I at length succeeded in passing it 
down as before. 
I again tried several times with the larger one, but could 
not get it any further than before; finding, however, that 
some little blood issued from the nostrils, I was fearful of 
doing mischief, and so desisted, and got her on her legs again. 
Just before I liberated her from the hobbles, I poured some 
water into her mouth; some of which (if any) went down, 
though most of it came back again. Her mouth was a good 
deal injured by the balling iron. Give clysters of thick gruel 
to support her. 
25th.—About the same. Attempted to give her some gruel 
by the mouth, but this produced the spasmodic retching as 
before. Is getting weaker, but not so much as one would 
expect. Is in very good condition yet. Continue clysters 
and gruel to lap in. Respiration perfectly calm. On raking 
her I find the faeces soft. 
4 p.m. About the same. She rejects the water she drinks. 
I attempted to pass the small probang, but without avail. 
The mouth smells very offensively, probably from the injury 
sustained by the balling iron. Gargle it with chloride of 
soda, and blister all down the neck. 
26th, Thursday.—On entering the stable she was pretty 
lively, and appeared very thirsty. I accordingly fetched her 
some water from the pump, portions of which she swallowed 
