In œsophagitis due to scalding the blisters are soon broken by the passage of food, the corium is exposed, and the animal has equal difficulty in swallowing either solids or liquids. The reflex action provoked by the passage of the food over these lesions may be so violent that the ingesta never arrive at the stomach, but are violently rejected by a sudden and unexpected antiperistaltic contraction. Even saliva is returned. Moreover, in these cases the history is generally clear, and the animal is feverish or greatly depressed. These objective symptoms are very significant, and when, in addition, an abnormal and exceptional degree of sensibility is detected at some point by palpation, they unmistakably indicate the existence of œsophagitis. The irregularity in deglutition, and therefore also in rumination, sometimes excites moderate tympanites without any very apparent cause. Should the condition still appear doubtful the œsophageal sound may be passed, but with great care. It generally aggravates the pain and produces intense antiperistaltic movements, which the practitioner should not attempt to overcome. =Complications.= If œsophagitis is moderate, recovery is the rule. The symptoms of pain gradually diminish. When, on the contrary, inflammation is very intense, as in certain cases of traumatic œsophagitis, the injured spot may become infected and suppuration follow. The existing fever then persists or becomes more marked; the animal is extremely depressed; respiration may be difficult and accelerated, and appetite is entirely lost. If the œsophageal abscess remains submucous the diagnosis is difficult, but it is often problematical, even when the abscess develops in the cervical region. The jugular furrow (usually on the left side) becomes the seat of a severe diffuse inflammatory swelling, the course of which clearly indicates the development of the symptoms. In exceptional cases fluctuation may be detected. If from the first the abscess develops around the œsophagus or in the course of suppuration comes to occupy this position, swelling in the jugular furrows is more apparent and easier to detect, and in this case fluctuation may be localised. When the lesions are within the thorax no tangible symptoms can be detected. Death may occur in a few days, when an abscess in the lower cervical region breaks into the anterior mediastinum, or when an abscess in the thoracic region opens into the pleural cavity. In œsophagitis produced by scalding and from swallowing hot or caustic liquids the mucous membrane, and sometimes the muscular tissue, is destroyed, and ulcerations and cicatrices result, or the œsophagus may even be perforated, with rapidly fatal results; even when recovery occurs, cicatrices form and cause very grave contraction. =Diagnosis.= The diagnosis is generally easy, provided that the symptoms noted are methodically analysed and the history of the case is taken into consideration.