32 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



DISEASES OF THE LIPS. 



Few persons are aware of the very great importance 

 of the lips of horses. They may justly be considered 

 as the hands of that animal. Without their aid he 

 could neither collect his food in the fields, nor even 

 convey corn down his throat. To prove this, I shall 

 give an account of an experiment which was tried with 

 an ass, to ascertain the extent of the use of these 

 important organs. The nerves which give feeling and 

 sensation to the lips were divided, and instantly it was 

 perceived that he was not aware when he touched food 

 with them. They were entirely divested of motion, 

 and he was in consequence unable to convey the oats, 

 with which his manger was full, to his teeth. Com- 

 pelled by hunger, he made a violent effort to lick up a 

 few with his tongue, but they were nearly all rubbed 

 off before they could be conveyed to his mouth. 



The angles of the mouth are frequently lacerated, 

 and become sore by the smallness of the bit, and from 

 the unmerciful dragging of a heavy hand in either 

 riding or driving him, and also from the shortness of 

 the snaffle. The severe excoriation of those parts 

 produces deep ulcers, which cannot be removed while 

 the animal is worked. Washing with a solution of 

 alum is one of the best curatives ; and if the sore is 

 callous, it must be burned slightly on the edges with 

 nitrate of silver. 



DISEASES OF THE EYE. 



In the horse the diseases of the eye are not 

 numerous ; but they are of frequent occurrence, and 

 often most difficult to cure. 



COMMON INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. 



SYMPTOMS. This malady generally makes its ap- 



