The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-06
CHOKING IN ANIMALS.


Trouble That Becomes Frequent when
Grain and Roots are Fed.
Many animals. particularly when quite
hungry, will bolt their meal or roots
without the necessary mastication and
the result is, that If large quantity il
thus disposed of. the mass lodges in the
gullet in its passage to the stomach and
the animal suffers considerable pain un.
til the obstruction is removed. Sliced
roots, unless cut very fine. are more
liable to cause choking than when whole
in the former case the animal is able t.
pass into the gullet = piece sufficiently
large to obstruct the passage, while
where the roots have to be cut by the
teeth there is little danger of large
pieces being bitten off. Chopped grain.
particularly barley and bran. is liable t.
choke an animal If an attempt is made
to take large mouthfuls.
The general symptoms Of choking arc
manifested by pronounced uneasiness.
The animal works its jaws, opening the
mouth frequently in the vain attempt tc
swallow the obstruction which is caus.
ing no little pain. The breath is drawn
with difficulty and tho stomach some
times appe ars to be distended, not Ow.
ing. however, as is generally supposed
TO air that has been swallowed, but tt
gas that has been formed through chem
ical changes occurring to the food in the
stomach. II the obstruction is situated
in the upper part of the gullet the head
is held low and extended, with the nose
and neck Strengthened to their full
length forward. The eyes appear glar
ing and bloodshot and show evidences o.
great pain. An examination will revea
the location of the cause of the trouble
but care should be taken not to con
found the natural unevenness of ths
throat at its junction to the head with
the obstruction. When situated u,
above it can usually be removed by thu
hand, balling iron or it's substitute. ,
big plough clevice first having been pu
in the mouth to keep the jaws apart anG
admit Of the passage of the hand.
Another form in which the obstruction
is found in about midway between thu
head and chest: the swelling in this case
being usually very pronounced upon thu
left side of the animals neck. Tht
symptoms are not SO severe As In thu
former case; there may be free passage
of liquids and no bloating.
The third form in which choking
takes place is when the substance lodge.
at the lower end Of the gullet, near it!
entrance to the stomach. Floating usu
ally accompanies this form and the ami
NAL may die by the pressure OF The
stomach on the lungs.
In relieving cases Of choking mos
painlessly a cheap and simple instru
ment known as probang is necessary
This instrument is spiral spring abou
Ave feet long covered with rubber O
leather and having cap-shaped heat
I on one end and perforated ball on til,
other. This. when oiled, is passed int,
the throat and the offending substanc,
! forced downward. In the absence o
the probang gentle manipulation with
the hand may suffice; harsh manipula
ton to be avoided. An improvised pro
bang may be made by we'll oiling piece
of new rope. As the proper instrumen
is hollow it is Of value when gas has col
lected in the stomach. Soft food shoul,
he given the animal after relief.-Mari
, time Farmer.