STRANGLES. 133 



A second source of the saliva is from the submaxillary glands. 

 or the glands under the jaw. One of them is represented at s, 

 Fig. 12. When the horse has catarrh or cold, these glands, like 

 the parotid gland, enlarge. This is often to be observed after 

 strangles, and several distinct kernels are to be felt under the jaw. 

 The farriers call them vives, and often adopt cruel and absurd 

 methods to disperse them, — as burning them with a lighted can- 

 dle, or hot iron, or even cutting them out. They will, in the 

 majority of instances, gradually disperse in proportion as the dis- 

 ease which produced them subsides ; or they will yield to slightly 

 stimulating embrocations ; or, if they are obstinate in their con- 

 tinuance, they are of no further consequence, than as indicating 

 that the horse has labored under severe cold or strangles. 



During catarrh, the little protuberances marking the mouths 

 of these ducts on either side of the bridle of the tongue, are apt 

 to enlarge, and the mouth under the tongue is a little red, and 

 hot, and tender. The farriers call these swellings barbs or paps ; 

 and as soon as they discover them, mistaking the effect of disease 

 for the cause of it, they set to work to cut them close off. The 

 bleeding that follows this operation somewhat abates the local 

 inflammation, and affords temporary relief; but the wounds will 

 not speedily heal, and even when healed are apt to break out 

 again for months or years afterwards. These paps disappear 

 with the cold that caused them, and should not be meddled with. 



The sublingual glands, resembling little folds in the integu- 

 ment on the lower side of the tongue, or on the bottom of the 

 mouth, sometimes enlarge during catarrh, and are called gigs, 

 bladders, or flaps in the mouth. Let them alone ; and should 

 any ulceration remain after that abatement of the swelling, use 

 tincture of myrrh, or a solution of alum. 



STRANGLES.* 



This is a disease principally incident to young horses — usually 

 appearing between the fourth and fifth year, and oftener in the 

 spring than in any other part of the year. It is preceded by 

 cough, and can at first be scarcely distinguished from common 

 cough, except that there is more discharge from the nostril, of a 

 yellowish color, mixed with pus, and generally without smell 

 There is likewise a considerable discharge of ropy fluid from the 

 mouth, and greater swelling than usual under the throat. This 

 swelimg increases with uncertain rapidity, accompanied by some 

 fever, and disinclination to eat, partly arising from the fever, but 

 more from the pain wliich the animal feels in the act of masti 



* Usually termed " Horse distemper" in the United States. 



