Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

OPERATION FOR OBSTRUCTION IN THE GULLET. 283
of wood taken away ; the stilett is then returned to its sheath, and
may be made to project a couple of inches beyond the knob. It is
retracted, and the tube is passed into the throat ; when it will be
evident that the operator may use either the comparatively broad
part of the knob, or the small and sharp stilett, as the case may seem
to require. To the first he can only apply simple pressure—to the
stilett he can give a percussive action. By sharply pushing down the
handle of the stilett, he will make the other end act with the power
of a little hammer, and thus may break down, and probably work
through, the centre of the root, as in the case which has been
just related. A perforation having been made through the centre,
and the obstruction having been previously torn and weakened. by the
screw, the whole may gradually be broken down, or will more readily
yield to pressure.
These directions have been founded on the supposition that tne
foreign body is lodged in the gullet above the entrance into the
thorax ; and if the operator fails in all these contrivances, perhaps he
will now admit, although reluctantly, the application of external force.
It has been recommended to place a small piece of wood against the
gullet, and In contact with that portion of the skin which covers the
obstructing body, and then, with a wooden mallet, to hammer away
against the opposite side. The root has been thus occasionally
broken down! and then forced on with the cart-whip ; but more
frequently the beast has been sadly punished, without any good effect
having been produced ; and, in some instances, although the nuisance
was for a while got rid of, so much tenderness of the gullet remained,
and inflammation arose, and ran to such an extent, that the animal
did not regain its appetite for many weeks afterwards, or pined away,
and became comparatively worthless. The practitioner will, therefore,
unwillingly have recourse to this, and will be justified in first seeing
what bleeding will do. There is not a more powerful relaxant than
bleeding—and especially when it is carried on, if necessary, to absolute
fainting. For awhile every spasmodic action ceases, and every
muscular fibre loses its power to contract. The" operator will; proba-
bly, take advantage of the momentary relaxation, in order to force
the body either upward or downward—upward first, and by far in
preference; or if downward, yet still cautiously balancing in his
mind the degree of resistance with the chance of ultimate success ;
for, if the resistance continues to be considerable, he may depend
upon it that when he has arrived'at the thorax, all further efforts will
be fruitless, and the patient will be lost.
He has one last resource, and he needs %ot to be so afraid of venturing
upon it. There is the operation of aesophagotomy, or the cut-
ting down upon the obstruction, and thus removing it. The veterinary
surgeon will never find, or ought never to find, difficulty here.
After having passed a little way down the neck, the oesophagus is