Abstract: A throat bushing (10, 54) for use in a seal chamber (8) or stuffing box (56) of rotary fluid equipment. The throat bushing defines a first face (13, 60) and a second face (21, 62), an outer surface (11) dimensioned to be received with a tight fit within a throat or bore of the seal chamber (8) or stuffing box (56), and a bore (25) therethrough dimensioned to receive a rotary shaft (3) with clearance to permit free rotation of the rotary shaft (3) therein. The throat bushing comprises at least one tangential channel (22) therethrough leading tangentially from the first face (13, 60) proximal to the outer surface (11), through to the second face (21, 62), proximal to an inner annular surface (12) of the throat bushing bore (25).