FEEDIXG. 213 



no palpable reason for refusing food exists, the horse's 

 mouth should be examined for decayed teeth. Horses 

 suffer from toothache, swelled, inflamed, and painful gums, 

 in much the same way as we do. I have seen the eye blood- 

 shot and watery in sympathy with a decayed upper molar. 

 A swelling of the bars of the mouth behind the front teeth, 

 called lampas, is common with young horses shedding their 

 teeth ; with old ones it is a sign of disordered stomach. 

 This complaint, more or less painful, interferes with feeding 

 and chewing, frequently producing feverishness. Some 

 grooms recommend burning, others lance the swellings 

 freely, many rub salt well in, barbarous treatment worthy 

 the ordinary run of stablemen. In such a case, gruel, 

 mashes, linseed, boiled oats, etc., must be substituted for 

 the ordinary hard feed, and a little cooling medicine will 

 soon bring the sufferer back to his feed. If no such causes 

 for the horse refusing his food can be traced, then a qualified 

 veterinary surgeon must be called in ; in any case of dental 

 surgery his services would be necessary. The horse's teeth 

 often want looking to. Sometimes a supernumerary tooth 

 — known as a "wolfs tooth" — makes its appearance in 

 front of the molars on either jaw, interferes with chewing, 

 and must be extracted. The molars are often irregular, 

 with long, sharp and jagged edges, causing wounds on the 

 inside of the cheeks, and cutting the tongue. These painful 

 protrusions require to be rasped down. The instruments 

 used in the removal of these irregularities should be handled 

 by the veterinary surgeon alone. 



The best bedding, in my opinion, is a reddish-yellow, 

 springy, fibrous description oi peat moss well teased and 

 carefully freed from dust. It may not be so sightly and 

 attractive as bright straw, but it lasts longer, is cheaper, if 

 kept dry is better for the feet, and the horse rests longer 



