494 DISEASES AND INJUKIES OF THE FACIAL REGION. 



BRUISES OF THE MOUTH. 



Various parts of the mouth, tongue, and the rami of the jaw 

 are bruised and injured by the teeth, and by severe bits. These 

 have already been alluded to under Diseases of the Bones, and 

 I need say but little here; but I would recommend that all 

 " pulling horses " should be ridden or driven in easy bits — the 

 ring-snaffle bit in preference to all others. I have often been 

 called to horses whose mouths have been hot, swollen, and the 

 mucous membrane torn by the bit, the lips bleeding, or the 

 whole of the parts which are situated beneath the bit black 

 from extravasated blood ; and I have heard the rider exclaim, 

 " The brute nearly pulled my arms off." 



Many horses are ruined, as well as tortured, by severe bits 

 and heavy hands ; and it may be often seen that a horse is so 

 tender in the mouth that he will scarcely face the bit, until he 

 is urged, perhaps by a whip he cannot endure, and the spurs 

 which he abominates. However, forward he must go ; his pride 

 is insulted, his dignity touched, his courage raised, and off he 

 goes, harder than was bargained for, pulling his rider or driver's 

 arms off — and serve him right ; but at the expense of his own 

 delicate mouth, from which he will suffer for many a day. I have 

 a horse at the present time, a highly-bred one, with courage, 

 spirit, action, docility, and a most beautiful mouth, provided he 

 is driven in a snaffle-bit ; but if a curb-bit is put on, he will 

 scarcely face it for the first few miles ; but when warmed to his 

 work, no man could hold him. He pulls and pulls, perhaps 

 suddenly stops, shakes his head, or leans to one side of the road. 

 Indeed, he was so dreadfully bad in his behaviour when I first 

 bought him, that I thought he was useless ; but when a proper 

 bit was tried, I had no further trouble with him. I am satisfied 

 that many hundreds of horses are the same as my own. 



When a horse is injured by the bit or curb, time should be 

 allowed for the mouth and jaw to regain their natural condition 

 before the animal is bitted, and then the bit should be of the 

 lightest and easiest description. 



affections of the buccal membrane. 



Lampas, barbs, paps, &c., are terms applied by the ignorant 

 to fancied diseases ; the first to the prominent palatine bars 



