394 
CESOPHAGOTOMY. 
tliat had been tried previously,, to my surprise, when the 
instrument had just entered the oesophagus, I found it im¬ 
possible to pass it further, so I at once manipulated the 
upper portion of the neck and detected a large turnip, appa¬ 
rently whole, which was taken by the farrier to be the knot 
of the thraple (larynx). On ascertaining this I tried to push 
the obstructing body down with the probang, but failed. 
Tympanitis not being so great as to endanger the life of the 
animal, I proposed to leave her alone for a time, merely 
horning over a little oil every now and then, but it returned 
by the nostrils. I also advised that a trocar should be in 
readiness in case of the cow getting worse. The swelling, 
however, entirely disappeared the same day. 
Next morning I was informed that the cow could not 
swallow anything, but that the obstruction had gone. I felt 
doubtful of this, and made a visit late in the afternoon, and 
found the swelling all gone, but the cow apparently getting 
exhausted and the turnip as firmly fixed in its seat as ever. 
All simple means having been tried and failed, our only 
course was to perform oesophagotomy. This being decided 
upon I made a longitudinal incision through the skin, and 
on dividing the tissues I was again surprised to find a lace¬ 
rated wound of the gullet over the obstruction, so large that 
I was able to remove the turnip from the oesophagus without 
the use of the scalpel. I put in a few interrupted sutures of 
strong thread, stitched up the external wound with metallic 
wire, and put a tight bandage round the neck. No solid 
food was given for eight or ten days ; the wound was dressed 
twice a day with carbolic acid lotion. A few hours after the 
operation the cow drank a small quantity of gruel. On the 
20th March she partook of but little nourishment, but after 
that her appetite improved. On the 23rd the bandage was 
removed, and gruel allowed her to drink, w^hen a good part 
escaped at the wound. 25th.—Bandage removed and the cow 
allowed to drink, but nothing escaped. 27th.—She has com¬ 
menced to eat her litter and everything she can get within 
reach of; some disorganization of parts has taken place. 
Had the disorganized parts removed and wound cleaned, 
and again bandaged, and allowed to heal up. 2nd April.— 
Allowed turnips and straw ; swallows with perfect ease; the 
wound almost healed up. The animal to all appearance is 
little the worse for the operation. 
