WOUNDS IX THE MOUTH. ]5] 



fully be distinguished iVjm the oppression and choking occasioned by the 

 pressure of the tumour, it will be proper to bleed. In the majority of cases, 

 however, bleeding will not only be unnecessary, but injurious. It will delay 

 the suppuration of the tumour, and increase the subsequent debility. A 

 few cooling medicines — as nitre, emetic tartar, and perhaps digitalis — may 

 be given, as the case requires. The appetite, or rather the ability to eat, 

 will return with the opening of the abscess. Bran-mashes, or fresh-cut 

 grass or tares, should be liberally supplied, which will not only afford sufFi- 

 cienl nourishment to recruit the strength of the animal, but keep the bowels 

 gently open. If the weakness be not great, no further medicine will be 

 wanted, except a dose of mild physic, to prevent the swellings or eruptions 

 vvhicli sometimes succeed to strangles. In cases of debility, a small quantity 

 of tonic medicine — as camomile, and gentian with ginger, in doses of a 

 couple of drachms — may be administered. 



As strangles seem to be a disease from which few horses escape, and 

 which, although attended with little danger, is sometimes tedious in its 

 progress, and accompanied by much debility, some foreign veterinary sur- 

 geons have endeavoured to produce a milder disorder by inoculating, either 

 with the matter from the tumour or the discharge from the nose ; and 

 it is said that a disease, with all the characters of strangles, but shorter 

 and milder in its course, has supervened. English practitioners have not, 

 we believe, tried the experiment. 



CANKER AND WOUNDS IN THE MOUTH. 



The mouth is injured much oftener than the careless owner suspects, by 

 the pressure of a sharp bit. Not only are the bars wounded and deeply 

 ulcerated, but the lower jaw, between the tush and the grinders, is some- 

 times torn even to the bone, and the bone itself affected, and portions of it 

 come away. It may be necessary to have a sharp bit for the headstrong 

 and obstinate beast, yet if that be severely and unjustifiably called into exer- 

 cise, the animal may rear, and endanger himself and his rider ; but there 

 can be no occasion for a thousandth part of the torment which the trappings 

 of the mouth often inflict upon a willing and docile servant, and which either 

 render the mouth hard, and destroy all the pleasure of riding, or cause the 

 horse to become fretful or vicious. 



Small ulcers are sometimes found in various parts of the mouth, said to 

 be produced by rusty bits, but oftener arising from contusions inflicted by 

 the bit, or from inflammation of the mouth. If the curb-bit is in fault, a 

 snaflle or Pelham-bit should be used ; if there be inflammation of the 

 mouth, a little cooling medicine may be administered ; and to the ulcers 

 themselves, tincture of myrrh, diluted with an equal quantity of water, or 

 an ounce of alum, dissolved in about twenty times the weight of water, may 

 be applied with the greatest advantage. 



THE PHARYNX 



Proceeding to the back of the mouth, we find the Pharynx (carrying or 

 conveying the food towards the stomach). It begins at the root of the 

 tongue (see 7, 8, and 9, p. 68) ; is sejjarated from the mouth by the sof) 

 palate (7), which hangs down from the palatine bone at 8, and extends In 

 the epiglottis, or covering to the windpipe. When the food has been sufli- 

 ciently ground between the teeth, and mixed with the saliva, it is gatherei/ 

 together by the tongue, and then bv the actior ol the cheeks and tongue and 



