The So-Called "Swallowed" Foreign Body

When a patient comes to us with the history of having swallowed a foreign body, we naturally take it for granted that the body has passed into the food passage; and frequently it does so. In some cases, however, it does not get into the alimentary tract at all but passes into the other neighbouring passage, viz., the aii' passage?and most often into the right bronchus?the shorter and wider of the two bronchi. Tu such cases for the first few days after the accident we often get? (1) A history of "swallowing." (2) Pain?sometimes felt on deglutition. (3) Pain on coughing. (4) No sign of constant laryngeal irritation, constant cough, altered voice, hoarseness, etc.