250 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



given in the food morning and evening. Careful dieting will also require 

 to be observed until the mouth resumes its natural condition, and of course 

 the bit must be withheld from it until this is effected. 



In all cases of this disease the teeth should be carefully examined, and 

 where irregularities are found to exist, they must lie promptly corrected by 

 the free use of the tooth rasp or other means, according to the nature of the 

 disturbance. (See " Diseases of the Teeth ".) 



Inflammation resulting from stings and chemical irritants calls for 

 physic and the application of soothing agents to the injured surface. A 

 suitable electuary for the last-named purpose may be compounded by 

 adding a little extract of belladonna to glycerine and treacle. Of this a 

 small portion may be put into the mouth three or four times a day, or it 

 may be swabbed over now and again with linseed-oil. 



APHTPLE 



This form of inflammation of the mouth, occasionally seen in foals and 

 other young creatures, is characterized by an eruption on the tongue 

 and other parts of the membrane, and sometimes also on the lips. 

 It resembles in its main features the malady termed "Thrush" in the 

 human infant, and is believed to have its origin in a similar if not identical 

 cause, viz.: a minute fungus or microscopic plant. 



In certain states of the system this organism (Oidium albicans), on 

 gaining access to the mouth, finds in the mucous membrane the necessary 

 conditions for its growth and development, as the result of which inflam- 

 mation is produced, at first in numerous small scattered centres, and later 

 over a considerable surface of the cavity. In some cases it may reach 

 the throat and extend to the air-passage, or pass downward along the 

 gullet and invade the stomach. 



Symptoms. — As we have previously remarked, aphthse is a disease 

 of early life, and seldom seen after the suckling period. Although 

 characterized by an eruption in the mouth it is often attended by more 

 or less constitutional disturbance, in connection with which derangement 

 of the stomach is a marked feature. In some instances, however, it is 

 of a mild character and passes away without attracting particular notice. 

 In the more severe form it is ushered in by general signs of illness, of 

 which dulness, a staring coat, and looseness of the bowels are the more 

 conspicuous. An inspection of the mouth discloses a number of grayish- 

 white spots scattered over the tongue, the cheeks, and other parts. These 

 may be so numerous and closely packed as to run one into the other 

 and spread over a large surface of the lining membrane. Later the mouth 



