DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE 129 



some time, the best treatment is to adjust a muzzle over the 

 mouth, removing it only to give sufficient time to eat. 



10. Foreign Substances in the Mouth. 



Sometimes a piece of stick becomes fastened across the 

 roof of the mouth. This prevents proper eating. There is a 

 continual working of the tongue round in the mouth and if 

 the obstruction be not removed there will be a "falling off in 

 flesh." In such cases examine the mouth carefully and 

 remove with pincers or the fingers. 



Barley or Wheat Beards. — When horses are fed on bar- 

 ley, wheat straw or chaff containing beards the mouth should 

 be examined every week or two, for in a great many cases 

 the beards get so lodged in the mouth that the animal cannot 

 remove them with his tongue. 



Symptoms. — The horse does not feed well, his breath is 

 bad and his mouth seems sore when you handle it; he 

 becomes gaunt and thin. 



Treatment. — In all cases where food of this kind is being 

 fed examine the mouth carefully at regular intervals. If any 

 beards are found remove them with the finger and wash the 

 sore place with alum water twice a day until it heals up. 

 Use two teaspoonfuls of alum to a pint of water. 



11. Injuries to the Tongue. 



The tongue is sometimes injured by pulling too hard on 

 it when drawing it out of the mouth. It may even become 

 paralyzed in this way. Little can be done for this; merely 

 give very soft food, so soft that he can almost drink it. Give 

 also a teaspoonful of powdered nux vomica three times a day 

 on the tongue with a spoon. Pulling back, when tied by the 

 bit, may injure the tongue. In some cases it is almost cut off. 

 If there is no chance of the tongue being healed it is best to 

 remove it with a knife and apply Monsel's solution of iron to 

 stop the bleeding, if any. Then bathe with a little alum 

 water three or four times a day for a few days, until it heals. 

 Use one teaspoonful of alum to one pint of water. Feed on 

 soft food for a few days, while it is healing. Should it not 

 be necessary to remove the tongue, treat it same manner 

 as after removal. 



