Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-01-27
AGRICULTURAL.
Choking in Cattle.

Prof. James Law, in reply to an
inquirer, says in the Tribune, as te
tho causes Of bloat and death in chok'
ing: l. Excessive bloating IS not a
constant result Of choking. 1t occurs
chiefly when the obstruction is lodged
in that portion Of the outlet which
occupies the region of the neck or
throat. II the foreign body is blocked
in that part Of the gn'let which lies in
the chest, between th. breast and the
stomach, bloatiog is either absent, or
is at the most very slight. The expla'
nation may be found in part in the
nature of the irritation produced in
the different cases. A foreign body
In the phyranx (throat) or the portion
Of the gullet situated in the neck,
produces cough and frequent efforts
to swallow, the irritation being pro-
duced in the back of tie mouth, tie
throat, and the upper part OF the
windpipe Qanryns). The secretion
of saliva is also greatly increased, and
by the constant movements of the jaws
this liquid is worked up into froth,
in which state it lie largely swallowed.
Tho obstructive body being usually
irregular or angular, this liquid is act
ually swallowed in considerable
amount, and contributes much to DIS
tend the paunch. Then the irritation
Of the throat or gullet has reflected
action on the paunch, arrests its natu-
raj movements and thereby favors
fermentation and the formation OF
gases in that organ. The evil ten
dency may be largely counterac'ed
by placing in the mouth smooth,
round billet Of wood, about q or 3
inches in thickness and retaining it
there by cords attached to the two
ends and tied together behind the
horns or ears. This renders swallow
ing nearly impossible, or fAvora regur
citation from the paunch, and never
fails to stop the b'oatlng before 1t has
become excessive or dangerous. If
kept IN for two to five hours the OBJ
structing foreign body usually softens
the pulet relaxes, and choking ls
spontaneously relieved, If, on the
other hand, the foreign body is fixed
in the portion Of the outlet lodged
within the chest, it rouses more par
ticularly the irritabllity Of the stom-
achs, and besides the arrest Of dlees
ton and the formation Of gases from
the ferment,ng food. there are fire.
quent efforts at regurgltatIon, aud
not only is the saliva which has been
swallowed rejected again by the
mouth, but even the liquid and gas
eous contents of the paunch are got
rid of to large extent in the same
manner. In this form of choking
there is no cough, but only slight
hloaeing, trembling and efforts at re-
eurgitation or vomiting, and the gag
treatment is not needed. g Death in
choking may result either from the
obstruction to the passage OF air or
from bloat. When the obstruction ls
lodged in the pharynx and directly
over the opening of the wind pipe
(larynx), it shuts off the air by it's
presence, aud still more by its lrrta-
ton, causing spasmodc closing, of the
opening (glotts) In such cases the
animal dies 10 from three to five min
utes, bnt the occurrence is very rare.
Usually death takes place from the
oloat. The pauucb dIslended b"yond
al power Of contraction, reacts on the
brain, arresting the nervous rowrr
1t also pres es on the diaphragm and
lungs, retards and arrests breathing,
interrupts the circulation, and pre-
vents the aeration Of the blood. The
animal dies then partly by reason Of
the nervous shock, and partly because
all the blood has became venous and
unfit to support life. Nervous shock
and lack Of oxJ gen and excess Of car
bonic acid in the blood are the main
causes OF death