The Canton times., 1896-04-03
SILVER TUBES FOR aRoARERs."
Tracheotomy : Device to which English
Veterinarians Often Resort.

Trache0tOmy Device 70 Wnhcn IhsHsn
Veterinarians Often Resort.
At the second January meeting in
Manchester 1t was noted with interest
by racing men that the horses which
came in first, second and fourth had un-
dergone the operation Of tracheotomy,
and carried silver tubes in their wind
pipes. Among the principal draw
backs to the breeding and owning OF
horses of all classes is the affection
known as roaring" The heavier breeds
are probably more commonly its sub
ject, but when the otherwise valuable
race horse is it's victim its effects are
acccntuated and the sphere of interest
enlarged
The noise emitted during forced exer-
ton by the ''roarer" depends mainly on
obstruction to the current of inspired
air through the larynx The sound is
variously attributed to depression Of
the trytenoid and to relaxation of the
vocal cord or the loose aryteno-epiglotti-
dean folds, but there is general agree
ment that the paralysis of the muscles
of the larynx on which the obstruction
depends corresponds to the distribution
of the recurrentnerve, (most frequently
of the left side). Opinion is by no
means unanimous as to the means by
which the function of the nerve is dis
turbed, but there is little question as to
the heredity of the affection, and none
as to its serious effect on the subject.
It is enough to call to mind the case OF
the celebrated Ormonde and his stock.
The attention of the veterinary pro-
fession has long been directed to obviat-
ing the dyspnoea by removal of the OBJ
structicn. Some three or four years
since considerable sensation was ex-
cited by the reported discovery of cure
by ablation of the offending cartilage.
The uncertainty of this operation,
which, perhaps, with some modifica-
ton, had been previously practiced by
Moeller and others on the continent,
has left it in disrepute to-day.
Benefiting by very common expert
encc in tracheotomy as temporary
measure for relief in acute laryngeal
affections, veterinary surgeons have
now adopted tracheotomy tubes as per-
manent arrangements for free admis-
sion of air to the lungs of "roarers."
This is by no means rare procedure,
and many carriage horses may be daily
seen in London and elsewhere wearing
these tubes and working without incon-
venience. Like observation may be oc-
casionally made in the hunting field,
and, in certain instances, horses, which
without them could not have galloped a
mile without the greatest discomfort to
themselves and danger to their riders,
have with the aid of tubes been hunted
for five seasons.
The operation itself is a very simple
one. 1t is usually performed with the
patient standing. longitudinal in
cision being made through the skin
covering the trachea, usually from six
to twelve inches below the thyroid
cartilage. The muscles are then sep
arated, the trachea incised, and, if in
tended as permanency, an oritice for
insertion of the tube is made by excis-
ing portion of three rings. Bleeding
is rarely profuse, and ordinarily no ves-
sells are ligatured and no forcipressure
applied.
The tube best adapted for permanent
use supports itself in position. 1t is
composed of three separate pieces, two
of which, when inserted, form a shield
applied to the skin, each having fiange
in the lumen of the trachea, the one be-
ing directed upward, and the other
downward. The third piece. the last to
be inserted, is q hollow cylinder open at
each end, which prevents the cut cart
ilages from falling in. The tube is
usually of white metal, silyer-plated.
For some time after the operation a
muco-purulent discharge may necessi-
tate the daily removal and cleansing of
the tube. When healing of the wound
is complete the tube is often allowed to
remain in for weeks without removal.
The horse appears TO suffer no incon-
venience. Pneumonia or accident is of
very rare occurrence. Excessive gran
ulation sometimes calls for the interyen-
tion of the veterinary surgeon, but in
the ordinary way the groom removes
and replaces the tube satisfactorily
British Medical journal.