90 
REPORTS OF OASES. 
cles of the cervical region and by convulsive coughing. 
I have seen, many years ago, a total obstruction of the 
oesophagus caused on a horse by a large medicated pill, for 
four days without producing any spasms of the neck, although 
there was profuse salivation, great general debility and tym- 
panization of the abdomen. I have observed similar symptoms, 
without spasms, on several cows that were fed on corn cobs 
Would not the difference in the symptoms lead one to suppose 
that in some cases the disease was directly caused by a foreign 
body, while in many other cases by a nervous constriction of 
the oesophagus previous or posterior to the dilatation of the 
same. For the successful result of my treatment in the Santa 
Rosa case proves evidently that the disease was not cured af¬ 
ter jabot was emptied, and that the constriction as well as the 
jabot still existed in parte as in toto. This effect of the sedative 
treatment demonstrates that by calming the nervous irri¬ 
tation it modified or alleviates the disease, and produced 
a temporary cure. The filling of the jabot would then 
be a consecutive effect. The existence of the jabot does 
not constitute the disease; it is only a pathological de¬ 
fect or abnormality. Whether this opinion is correct 
or false, the fact remains established that in a good many 
cases the diseases can be alleviated and perhaps cured by 
therapeutic means without performing the oesophagotemia. 
Unless the obstruction be directly caused by a foreign body I 
would advise to try at first morphine and the sedative liniment 
and empty the jabot by administering the above stimulating 
and irritating mixture, then remove the constriction by re¬ 
peatedly drenching the animal with a few ounces of belladonna 
and hyoscium oil and external application of the sedative lini¬ 
ment. 
As for the final result of this jabot, I cannot say whether 
or how they disappear, as I have lost my Santa Rosa case out 
of sight. But I think that whenever there is no laceration of 
the oesophageal muscular fibres, the dilated portion will 
gradually retract in young horses, if they are carefully fed for 
several months with small rations of dilute or fluid feed, cut 
hay, fed moistened, or green grass. In case of laceration, the 
operation is indicated.; 
