St. Landry democrat., 1884-08-16
Choking Of Animals.

Turnips, potatoes, apples, bits of car
rots, of beet root, etc., given to our
large domestic animals, sometimes
stick in the gullet. Cases of this kind,
being of q serious nature, the farmer
should be made aware of the danger
and of what is to be done on these oc-
casions. We will lay down the best
rules to follow in such an emergency.
If the size of a whole potato or turnip
sticking in the throat is not consider
able, it may, be easily disengaged by
reason OF its rounded form. 1t is not
the same, however, with pieces of beet
root or carrot; we have seen cows die
of suffocation in few minutes from
this cause The crisis has generally u
longer duration, which permits the APP
pl:cation of remedies. A COW whose
gullet contains foreign body is rest
less, paving the ground, looks to the
right and left at its companions.
stretches out its neck, moves its head
up and down, slavers, keeps its mouth
open, and coughs frequently. All
these efforts and movements are exc
cuted with the object of RIDING herself
of the body which incommodes her.
The animal refuses to eat; and if liquids
are swallowed, they are usually thrown
back through the mouth and nose. The
means most commonly adopted is to
push the thick, rough handle of t1ex-
ible whip down the animals throat.
this plan sometimes succeeds, but only
at the imminent risk of more or less
laceration OF the gullet; and animals
are frequently destroyed by such bar
barous treatment Another not less
Objectionable method consists in break
ing down by heavy blows with mallet,
the body sticking in the gullet, which
by this means is bruised and lacerated.
When an animal shows the symptoms
before described, passing the hand
down along the left side of tie neck,
Immediately behind the windpipe. will
ascertain whether foreign body is
present. The obstruction being discov-
cred, half pint of raw linseed oil may
be given; gentle manipulation may be
employed ON the outside, above and be-
low the obstacle. either to force it down
toward the stomach, or to bring it up
towards the mouth. The latter result
having been attained, the tongue should
be gently withdrawn by the left hand,
while by introducing the right hand into
the mouth, the foreign body may be
grasped and removed In such eases.
The balling iron is useful to- keep the
mouth open.
II these measures fail, recourse should
oe had to the probang, TO push the OBJ
structing body down into the stomach.
In using this instrument, it will be
necessary to have the head and neck
held in a straight line by one or two
assistants. The tongue must be gently
withdrawn from the mouth, and the
probang, having been previously well
smeared with oil or butter, cautiously
passed down into the gullet. On re-
sistance being met with, gentle and
continual pressure may be employed,
under the influence of which the foreign
body viii generally in a short time pass
down. Bran and other dry food is
sometimes impaeted in the gullet, but
the treatment above mentioned applies
as well IN these cases. After an animal
has been successfully relieved from
choking. it should be fed on cruel and
similar sloppy food for a week after
ward, as the gullet may lave become
more or less bruised by the removal OF
the obstruction. st. Fad (Ntaa.1
Eioneer-P Press.