

THE FARMER AT HOME. 237 



matters which are used for producing light, is the degree of tempera- 

 ture which they require, in order to make them combine with the 

 oxygen of the atmosphere, in sufficient proportion tp produce flame. 



LAMP-BLACK. This is a coloring substance in very general 

 use for several purposes. The finest lamp-black is produced by col- 

 lecting the smoke from a lamp with a long wick, which supplies more 

 oil than can be consumed, or by suffering the flame to play against a 

 metallic cover, which impedes the combustion, not only by carrying 

 off part of the heat, but by obstructing the current of air. Lamp- 

 black is prepared, however, in a much cheaper way for the demands 

 0f trade. The dregs which remain after the purification of pitch, or 

 tlse small pieces of fir- wood, are burned in furnaces of a peculiar con- 

 struction, the smoive of which is made to pass through a long horizon- 

 tal flue, terminating in a close boarded chamber. The roof of this 

 chamber is made of coarse cloth, through which the current of air 

 escapes, while the soot remains. 



LAMPAS. Lampas, or lampers, as many farmers pronounce it, 

 is a difficulty in the roof or palate of a horse's mouth, which prevents 

 his eating except with pain. In a horse, the palate is crossed trans- 

 versely by bars, and some of the lower ones, or those adjoining the 

 fore teeth, swell, become inflamed, and if they rise higher than the 

 teeth, which, in a young horse, or when he is shedding his teeth, they 

 sometimes will, feeding is impossible. It may also arise at any time 

 from a feverish tendency* but most often when taken up from grass, 

 or when he has been over-fed. It is the custom with some, when a 

 horse has the lampas, to burn them out with a hot iron ; and nearly 

 every blacksmith's shop is furnished with an instrument of torture for 

 this purpose. This is a :Tiost barbarous practice, and should never be 

 performed. It tortures the animal to no purpose, and it destroys, by 

 rendering the bars callous and hard, that elasticity and sensibility so 

 necessary to safety in managing a horse by the bridle. 



In nine times out of ten the inflammation will subside in a few 

 days of itself, and if it does not, a few mashes, or gentle alterative 

 medicines, will relieve him. If they are severe, a few slight cuts or 

 pricks across the bars with a lancet or knife, will cause the inflam- 

 mation or swelling to subside ; but in all operations about the mouth 

 of the horse, care must be taken not to disturb the principal artery or 

 vein of the palate, unless a full bleeding is intended. At times this 

 difficulty of eating arises from either the grinders or tushes endeavor- 

 ing to make their way through the integuments of the jaw. Exam- 

 ination will show whether this is the case, and if so, a cross cut with 

 a penknife will give immediate relief. Young horses, from the short- 

 ness of their teeth, are more subject to the lampas than old ones, but 

 those of all ages ar3 liable to the disease. 



LAND REMAINS. A term applied to remains of animals and 

 vegetables, found 4 very where on digging in the earth, mostly inter- 



