OF THE MOUTH, TONGUE, AND JAWS. 181 



nature. These symptoms lead us to examine the mouth, 

 where we often find tlie cause to be wound, tumour, or 

 ulceration, the eflPect of injury. 



The Tongue is sometimes seen with an incision almost 

 through its substance ; at other times the frcenwn lingucR 

 is lacerated. This may be produced by a sharp bit. Or it 

 may happen through forcibly dragging at the tongue, and 

 sawing it against the edges of the molar teeth, in the act of 

 administering a ball. Or the tongue may be bitten by the 

 animal, perhaps during sleep, or voracious feeding : at least 

 I have had cases said to have occurred during the night, for 

 which I could in no other manner account. Should the 

 division be deep and recent, we may make trial of sutures ; 

 though, unless the wound be very near the tip, we shall find 

 them difficult to insert. And, after all, we must not expect 

 to accomplish adhesion ; for the constant motion of the 

 tongue, together with the food continually getting into the 

 wound, precludes all hope of that. We may, however, 

 succeed in preventing further laceration. Though, should 

 there appear no danger of loss, the case will do better with- 

 out assistance. We may promote the healing by occasion- 

 ally cleansing the wound from all masticated matter which 

 may have become lodged therein. 



Several cases have occurred of horses lacerating their 

 tongues w^hile on guard at the Horse Guards. The ac- 

 cidents appear to have happened when turned round and 

 fastened up to the side-chains by the cheeks of the bit : while 

 in this reined-up condition they receive sudden alarm from 

 the men running into the stable and seizing their horses 

 by the head to hurry them out to parade. 



To prevent horses hanging back while tied up with their 

 halters, it is a common practice to put a loop of the rope, 

 or what in groom's cant is called '^a chaw,'' into their 

 mouths ; this, on the animals repeating the act of flying 

 back, is very apt to prove the occasion of lacerating the 

 tongue, should it have got confined underneath the loop. 

 To this cause my attention was kindly called by Mr. Mogford, 

 Guernsev. 



