GESOPHAGOTOMY. 
393 
the shed. Bowels were now relaxed, and altogether the cow 
seemed much better. Gave an aromatic tonic, and as she 
refused all food ordered gruel to be given several times during 
the day. 
12th.—I found my patient now standing up, and the man 
in attendance informed me that she had been straining very 
much, especially when voiding her faeces; she was very much 
swollen round the near hip and along the course of the lumbar 
vertebrae. I applied a blister on these parts, and gave Tinct. 
of Opii, and left instructions for her to be kept quiet. 
13th.—The cow was very much worse with regard to the 
straining. 1 examined her rectum. I found the intestine 
forced very much to the right side by some enlargement. I 
also felt the obstruction per vagina. I gave a sedative, and 
informed my client that I had not much hopes of her re¬ 
covery. 
14th.—Seeing no improvement I advised my client to have 
the animal destroyed, but, as he wished me to continue treat¬ 
ment, she remained in the state I have described until the 
7th of April, when death put an end to her sufferings. 
On post-mortem examination I found the diseased kidney 
I send : it was not in its natural position, but in the pos¬ 
terior part of the pelvic cavity; an abscess had formed, and 
when opened at least six quarts of purulent matter issued; 
this was the enlargement which had been pressing against 
the rectum. The other kidney was in its proper position, 
and seemed comparatively healthy. 
OSSOPHAGOTOMY. 
By James Ritchie, M.R.C.V.S., Kincaldrum. 
On the 18th of March last I was requested to attend to a 
case of choking, the subject being a young cow six months 
with calf. 
On my arrival 1 was informed by the empiric already in 
attendance that he had failed three times in succession to 
pass the probang the whole length of the oesophagus; to use 
his own words, he only reached the brisket; at the same time 
he assured me the obstruction was farther on than the neck 
portion of the gullet. Being thus far informed 1 did not 
make any examination, but attempted to pass the probang. 
Having more faith in the instrument I had than in the one 
