LAMPAS. 17 



acterized by a swelling of the bars of the palate adjoining the 

 gunn, at the back of the upper nippers. 



Sipnptoms. — The first symptom that will be observed will be 

 a difficulty of feeding, the horse or colt leaving a portion of his 

 ordinary feed in the trough or manger. On examining the 

 mouth, the bars will be found swollen, red, and sore, being 

 raised nearly or quite as high as the teeth, or even above them. 

 If not cured, but suffered to continue, the animal will lose flesh 

 and get in low condition, and will not improve. 



Causes. — The most common cause of lampas is the irritation 

 of the gums, caused by the shedding of the teeth, extending to 

 the bars. Or it may result from a generally feverish condition 

 of the system ; but I am of opinion that a very common cause 

 is derangement of the stomach. 



Treatment. — Most cases of this disease will get well without 

 treatment, or by allowing the animal soft feed for a short time. 

 I have found the following treatment entirely successful, and 

 regard it preferable to any other. Take a stick of lunar caustic 

 (nitrate of silver), and touch the parts affected once a day for 

 three days. After each application of the caustic, pass a cloth 

 through the mouth and around the muzzle, to keep the tongue 

 from coming in contact with the parts, and let it remain on for- 

 \ few hours. It may be kept on by fastening it to the halter.. 

 This treatment should always be j^referred, but as the remedy- 

 may not always be at hand, I shall give one or two other suc- 

 cessful plans of treatment. Touch the parts quickly over withi 

 a hot iron; not so as to burn the flesh, or even blister, but just 

 so as to sear the skin or mucous membrane. If quickly and 

 properly done, this will not destroy the bars or in any way 

 injure the mouth. But if, as I have sometimes seen, the iron 

 is so applied as to destroy the flesh and leave a deep sore, it 

 will do much injury, and the remedy prove worse than the dis- 

 ease. After burning, take a handful of salt and meal, and rub 

 the part well with it, and then take a sharj) nail and prick the 

 affected bars in two or three places, near the middle, so as to 

 2 



