The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-12-24
Choking Cattle.

Mr.. j. L. DUDLEY inquiries as to the
causes of bloat and death in choking.
l. Excessive bloating is not a constant
result of choking. 1t occurs chiefly
when the obstruction is lodged in that
portion of the gullet which occupies the
region of the neck or throat. If the for
eign body is blocked in that part of the
gullet which lies in the chest, between
The breast and the stomach, blOating IL
either absent or is at the most very
slight. The explanation may be found
in part in the nature of the irritation pro-
duced in the different cases. A foreign
body in the pharynx throat) or the por-
ton of the gullet situated in the neck,
produces cough and frequent efforts to
swallow, the irritation being produced
in the back of the mouth, the throat,
and the upper part of the windpipe
ilarynx). The secretion of saliva is also
greatly increased, and by the constant
movements of the jaws this liquid is
worked up into a froth, in which state
it is largely swallowed. The obstructive
body being usually irregular or angular,
this liquid is actually swallowed in consid-
cradle amount, and contributes much to
distend the paunch. Then the irritation
of the throat or gullet has reflected
action on the paunch, arrests the natural
movements, and thereby favors fer
mentation and the formation of gases in
that organ. The evil tendency may be
largely counteracted by placing in the
mouth smooth, round billet Of wood,
about 2 1-2 or 8 inches in thick
ness, and retaining it there by cords
attached to the two ends and tied
together behind the horns or ears. This
renders swallowing nearly impossible,
and favors reorganization from the
paunch, and never fails to stop the bloat-
ing before it has become excessive or
dangerous. If kept in for two to five
hours the obstructing foreign body
usually softens, the outlet relaxes, and
choking is spontaneously relieved. If,
on the other hand, the foreign body is
fixed in the portion of the gullet lodged
within the chest, it rouses more particu-
larly the irritability of the stomachs, and
besides the arrest of digestion and the
formation of gases from the fermenting
food, there are frequent efforts at re-
gurgitation, and not only is the saliva
which has been swallowed rejected again
by the mouth, but even the liquid and
gaseous contents of the paunch are got
rid of to a large extent in the same man.
ner. In this form of choking there is
no cough, but only slight bloating, trem-
bling and efforts at regurgitation or
vomiting, and the gag treatment is not
needed. 2. Death in choking may re-
suit either from the obstruction to the
passage Of, air or from bloat. When the
obstruction is lodged in the pharynx and
directly over the opening of the wind
pipe (arynx), it shuts off the air by its
presence and still more by its irritation
causing spasmodic closing of the open
ing (glottis). In such cases the animal
dies in from three or FIVE minutes, but
the occurrence is very rare. Usually
death takes place from the bloat. The
paunch distended beyond all power of
contraction, reacts on the brain, arrest
ing the nervous power. 1t also presses
on the diaphragm and lungs, retards
and arrests breathing, interrupts the
circulation and prevents the aeration o.:
the blood. The animal dies then partly
by reason of the nervous shock and
partly because all the blond has become
senouSand unfit to support life. Nerv-
Gus shock and lack of oxygen and excess
of carbonic acid in the blood are the
main causes of death.-Prof. Jas. Lao,
in n. Y. Tribune.