THE HOESE. 81 



cause ; but we have not a sufficient knowledge of the animal economy 

 to discover tliat cause. 



Inflammation may be considered with reference to the membranes 

 which it attacks. 



Tlie mucous mejiihrancs line all the cavities that communicate with 

 the external surface of the body. There is frequent inflammation of the 

 membrane of the mouth. Blain^ or Ghjsijnthrax^h?i\Q^\Q,\\\-civ enlaro'e- 

 ment which runs alono; the side of the tongue. Its cause is unknown. 

 It should be lanced freely and deeply, and some aperient medicine 

 administered. Barbs, or paps, are smaller enlargements, found more in 

 the neighborhood of the bridle of the tongue. They should never be 

 touched with any instrument : a little cooling medicine will generally 

 remove them. Lampas is inliammation of the palate, or enlargement 

 of the bars of the palate. The roof of the mouth maybe slightly 

 lanced, or a little aperient medicine administered; but the sensibility of 

 the mouth should never be destroyed by the application of the heated 

 iron. Canker and wounds in the mouth, from various causes, will be 

 best remedied by diluted tincture of myrrh, or a weak solution of alum. 



Foreign Bodies in the Gullet may be generally removed by means of the 

 probang used in the hove of cattle; or the oesophagus may be opened, 

 and the obstructing body taken out. 



It is on the mucous membranes i\\?ii poisons principally exert their 

 influence. The yeiv is the most frequent vegetable poison. The horse 

 may be saved by timely recourse to equal parts of vinegar and water 

 ejected into the stomach, after the poison has been as much as possible 

 removed by means of the stomach-pump. For arsenic or corrosive 

 sublimate there is rarely any antidote. 



Spasmodic Colic is too frequently produced by exposure to cold, the 

 drinking of cold water, or the use of too much green food. The horse 

 should be walked about, strong friction used to the belly, and spirit of 

 turpentine given in doses of two ounces, with an ounce each of lauda- 

 num and spirit of nitrous ether, in warm water, ale, or gruel. If the 

 spasm is not soon relieved, the animal should be bled, and injections of 

 warm water with a solution of aloes thrown up, if constipation exists. 

 This spasmodic action of the bowels, when long continued, is liable to 

 produce introsusception, or entanglement, of them ; and the case is then 

 hopeless. 



Superpurgation often follows the administration of a too strong or im- 

 proper dose of physic. The torture which it produces will be evident 

 by the agonized expression of the countenance, and the frequent look- 

 ing at the flanks. Plenty of thin starch or arrowroot should be given 

 both by the mouth and by injection ; and, twelve hours having passed 

 without relief being experienced, chalk, catechu, and opium should be 

 added to the gruel. 



Worms in the intestines are not often productive of much mischief, 

 except they exist in very great quantities. Small doses of emetic tartar 

 or calomel^ with a little ginger, may be given to the horse half an hour 

 before his first meal, in order to expel the round white worm ; it must 

 be worked off with linseed-oil or aloes, and injections of linseed-oil or 

 aloes will usually remove the ascarides, or needle-worms. 

 4* 



