72 DISEASES OF 



sometimes caused by the curb-chain bruising the cover- 

 ing of the bone under the jaw, and the break will take 

 place the same as described above. It is sometimes 

 caused by blows or external violence of some kind, wben 

 it is usually of a more serious nature. 



Symptoms. If from the bit, there will be swelling of 

 the gums and considerable tenderness ; if the animal is 

 worked, the saliva will dribble from the mouth in large 

 quantities ; some horses get exceedingly ill-tempered 

 when suffering from this accident, and will continually 

 fight the bit if driven. Others again will not drive up 

 to the bit and are apt to be made balky. If the curb- 

 chain is the cause of the fracture, there will be swelling 

 of the soft structures under the jaw, and very great 

 tenderness. Abscesses sometimes form in this location 

 as a result of the fractures, and we sometimes have 

 formed a great deal of pus. When the fractured piece 

 of bone has separated from the main bone, we will 

 shortly get small portions of dead bone working toward 

 the surface, so that when examining horses with sore 

 mouths I quite frequently find sharp pieces of bone 

 protruding through the open sore in the gum. This 

 can be easily felt when the finger is run back over the 

 gum. There is often a very bad smell from the horse's 

 mouth. The horse will sometimes refuse to eat solid 

 food, or only in small quantities, when the subject of 

 this accident. 



Treatment. If it is caused by the bit, and the gum is 

 simply swollen, the following lotion should be used 3 

 or 4 times a day : powdered borax, 1 ounce ; dissolved 

 in half a pint of water, then add J an ounce of laudanum, 

 If there is a wound in the gum and a bad odor from the 

 breath, the finger should be inserted in the wound, and 



