554 



THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



mouth. If tliis is found to be the case the bladder should be iuunediately 

 lanced and with the evacuation of its contents early relief may be expected. 

 The sore surface should be sponged with a solution of alum or boric acid. 

 Vinegar diluted is a favourite remedy among breeders, but not so effectual 

 as those above named, since in a few instances a ragged ulcer is left with a 

 disinclination to heal up and foul-smelling breath. Alum is perhaps of all 

 remedies the best for mouth sores, and in the days of foot-and-mouth disease, 

 large ragged sores might be seen almost healed with a few applications. 

 Old horses through irregularities of the teeth are liable to lacerated cheeks, 

 a id the tooth-rasp must be used (o prevent a recurrence of the trouble. 



Fia. 99a.— C. H. Huise's Tooth-rasp, 



The old-fashioned instrument was a clumsy contrivance, needing a very large 

 amount of manual power and some dexterity, but with the instrument here 

 illustrated the horse-owner will effect a saving in his corn that Avill soon 

 pay the cost of one. 



Sore throat. — By this term it is not intended to convey the idea of disease 

 of the respiratoiy tract, although an inflammatory condition of the fauces 

 often leads by sympathy or invasion to affections of the larynx (see 

 Laryngitis). 



AVhen the throat inflames, as is evidenced by fulness and hax'dness of this 

 part, and there is difficulty of swallowing, the skin covering it should imme- 

 diately be severely sweated, or the larynx will be involved and irreparable 

 injury done. The tincture of cantharides diluted with an equal part of 

 spirit of turpentme and a little oil, may be rubbed in with a piece of sponge, 

 until it produces irritation of the skin, which in a few hours will be followed 

 by a discharge from the part. Six or eight drachms of nitre may also be 

 dissolved in the water which the horse drinks, with some difliculty, but 

 still, as he is thirsty, he will take it. Sometimes eating gives less pain than 

 drinking, and then the nitre may be given with a bran mash instead of the 

 water. 



CliOKiXG. — This accident, which is of comparatively frequent occurrence in 

 other animals, is rare in the horse but attended with considerable danger. 

 It may occur in any part of the food passage from the back of the mouth to 

 the distant or cardiac end of the gullet. 



2'he Causes. — Bad teeth, imperfect mastication, fright, drinking with food 

 in the mouth, impaction of foreign bodies or diseased condition of the 

 oesophagus. Impeiiect mastication, either from bad teeth or greediness, may 

 result in a pellet of food passing into the pharynx in a condition unfit for 



