CHOKING.
Gentlemen have something to answer for, when they employ the knowing and the ignorant as grooms about their stables. The writer wishes women would undertake to tend on horses. The animal requires no service that the female strength would not be equal to, while the female mind would soon comprehend and appreciate the gentleness of the quadruped. The timidity of the equine race would meet with womanly sympathy; and no one can have observed the attachments which spring up between the female and domesticated creatures, but must in heart have confessed that the care of the stable was, as much as the watching of the sick-room, especially woman's province.
The foolish fellows, now congregated about a mews, are constantly longing for something which shall magically do their work for them. They have a firm belief in charms and an utter hatred of labor. They sigh for some spell which shall marvelously improve the appearance of their master's property without exertions on their parts. Their pride centers in the blooming coats of their charges. They have a large confidence in all sorts of condition balls. Such secrets constitute the mystery of their craft. As a general rule, the faith is proportioned to the strength of the ingredient. Arsenic is, by the lower order of stable keepers, contemplated with positive love. Vitriol, in the uneducated groom, engenders the warmth of passion. Niter breeds delight; and confidence is, by the better sort of horse attendants, bestowed on any filth or trash. Raw tobacco has some repute; but the ashes of the weed, collected and wrapped in several papers, are much more esteemed in the generality of stables. Half a pint of human urine, forced down the cleanly throat of the horse, is not an unfrequent benefit bestowed upon the animal; but, happily, this specific is recognized only by the more learned of the class. Of all things, however, to amend condition, perhaps, a raw egg driven into the horse's œsophagus, before any food has been consumed, may be honored by the most universal regard.
Nevertheless, be the condition-worker what it may, the groom generally keeps his own counsel. Arsenic and vitriol are commonly favorites with agricultural carters, who poison their horses with the intention of over-much kindness. Tobacco ashes and eggs are popular with the more refined of the order. Both classes, however, are too self-confident and too ignorant to have any fear of consequences. With the groom, the egg is thrust into the fasting gullet. Its size excites the contractibility of the muscular fiber; the substance is soon grasped by the living tube with spasmodic tenacity. There it is retained. The symptoms consequent upon choking are soon exhibited; but the groom looks on unmoved. At first, he thinks the evidence of agony is proof in favor of his charm; subsequently he resolves, with the cunning of ignorance, "not to split upon hisself."
Now, in a case of this description, never depend upon any report you may have received. Recollect choking may spring from two opposite causes. The symptoms may result from disease, as strangles; or they may arise from any tumor pressing against the respiratory channel. In that instance, however, remove the cause, and the effect will cease. Of genuine choking, during health, there remain two sorts: the high and the low choke. Thus, if the substance has become fixed in the pharynx, or has only passed six inches down the œsophagus, the symptoms are urgent. The remedy must be at hand, else the life is quickly lost.
In the high choke the head is raised; saliva bedews the lips; a discharge soils the nostrils; the eyes are inflamed and watery; the countenance is haggard; the breathing audible; the muscles of the neck are tetanic; the flanks heave; the body is in constant motion; the fore legs paw and stamp; the hind legs crouch and dance; perspiration breaks forth; every movement expresses agony: wherefore, if relief be not quickly afforded, the horse falls and dies of suffocation.
THE HIGH CHOKE.
The veterinary surgeon should attend such a case, prepared to perform tracheotomy, which sometimes is absolutely necessary, before anything intended to remove the obstruction can be attempted. The operation, in this case, is designed to be no more than temporary; therefore, the use of Mr. Gowing's tracheotomy tube is here decidedly in its proper place. It can be inserted; a few moments after it can be removed, and leave behind no loss of substance to be supplied or to retard recovery.
