66 FARM ANIMALS 



ment of the feet, cracking of the hoof, lameness, etc. 

 Some of the common diseases of the horse are brief- 

 ly discussed below. If any trouble appears which 

 is not familiar to the farmer or horseman a quali- 

 fied veterinarian should be called at once. In seri- 

 ous cases of tongue lolling it has been found that 

 this defect may be cured by amputating the tip of 

 the tongue. This, however, requires the attention 

 of a veterinarian. About three inches of the tongue 

 may be removed without any danger and without 

 diminishing the usefulness of the tongue in the 

 least. In simple cases of tongue lolling a change 

 of bits may bring the desired result. 



The average age at which the horse ceases to be 

 of great service is perhaps 20 years. They occa- 

 sionally live to the age of 40 or 50 and quite often 

 beyond 30 years. Frequently they are capable of 

 considerable work up to 30 years. In individual 

 cases mares have produced 32 colts and thorough- 

 bred mares are usually bred up to the age of 22 and 

 draft mares to 15 to 18. As a rule stallions are not 

 considered suitable for service beyond the age of 

 20 years. 



DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



It is obviously impossible in the space at our 

 disposal to give even a brief description of the nu- 

 merous diseases which may affect the horse. Atten- 

 tion may be called to some of the most important 

 and common ones with suggestions as to what may 

 be done in different cases. In general it should be 

 remembered that congestion, inflammation and 

 fever are mere symptoms of disease and should al- 

 ways suggest investigation to determine the cause 

 of the trouble. 



