DISEASES OF HORSES 107 



It is quite a common opinion among owners of horses and 

 stablemen that lampas is a disease that very frequently exists. In 

 fact whenever a horse fails to eat, and if he does not exhibit very 

 marked symptoms of a severe illness, they say at once he has the 

 lampas. It is almost impossible to convince them to the contrary; 

 yet it is not the case. It may be put down, then, as an affliction 

 of the stableman's imagination rather than of the horse's mouth. 



Stomatitis. This is an inflammation of the mucous mem- 

 brane lining the mouth and is produced by irritating medicines, 

 foods, or other substances. The symptoms are swelling of the 

 mouth, -which is also hot and painful to the touch ; there is a copious 

 discharge of saliva ; the mucous membrane is reddened, and in some 

 cases there are observed vesicles or ulcers in the mouth. The treat- 

 ment is simple, soft feed alone often being all that is necessary. A 

 bucket of fresh cold water should be kept constantly in the manger 

 so that the horse may drink or rinse his mouth at will. In some 

 instances it may be advisable to use a wash of chlorate of potash, 

 borax, or alum, about one-half ounce to a pint of water. Hay, 

 straw, or oats should not be fed unless steamed or boiled. A form 

 of contagious stomatitis sometimes occurs that is characterized by 

 the formation within the mouth of small vesicles, or blisters. In 

 this disease the horse should be isolated from other horses, and his 

 stall, especially the feed box, and his bit should be disinfected. 



Glossitis, or inflammation of the tongue, is very similar to 

 stomatitis, and mostly exists with it and is due to the same causes. 

 Injuries to the tongue may produce this simple inflammation of 

 its covering membrane, or, if severe, may produce lesions much 

 more extensive, such as lacerations, abscesses, etc. These latter 

 would require surgical treatment, but for the simpler forms of in- 

 flammation of the tongue the treatment recommended for stomat- 

 itis should be followed. 



Ptyalism, or salivation, consists in an abnormal and excessive 

 secretion of saliva. This is often seen as a symptom of irregular 

 teeth; inflammation of the mouth or tongue, or of the use of such 

 medicines as lobelia, mercury, and many others. Some foods pro- 

 duce this, sucE as clover, and particularly second crop; foreign 

 bodies, such as nails, wheat chaff, and corncobs becoming lodged in 

 the mouth. If the cause is removed no further attention is neces- 

 sary, as a rule. Astringent washes may be applied to the mouth 

 as a gargle or by means of a sponge. 



Paralysis of the Pharynx, or, as it is commonly called, paralysis 

 of the throat, is a rare but very serious disease. The symptoms are 

 as follows : The horse will constantly try to eat or drink, but will 

 be unable to do so ; if water be offered him from a pail he will ap- 

 parently drink with avidity, but the quantity of water in the pail 

 will remain about the same ; he will continue trying to drink by the 

 hour; if he can succeed in getting any fluid into the back part of 

 the mouth it will come out at once through the nose. Foods also 

 return through the nose, or are dropped from the mouth, quidded. 

 An examination of the mouth by inserting the hand fails to find 



