146 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



menced by the horse refusing food, and hanging iown 

 his head. He soon became stupid, and leaned against 

 any object for support. In a few hours he i'ell, and in a 

 day or two expired. In other cases, it commenced by 

 weakness across the loins, and stiffness of the limbs, 

 which gradually increased till the animal fell, generally 

 to rise no more. In the latter case, the brain did not 

 appear to be affected. 



Remedy. Many medicines were tried, and mostly in 

 vain. General bleeding usually hastened death ; in 

 some few cases, when it was attended to at a very early 

 stage, it seemed to have a favorable effect. Bloderate 

 bleeding in the head was considered useful ; after this 

 operation, cold water was applied to the head, with appa- 

 rent benefit. In some cases, it was thought that cam- 

 phor, in others, calomel, had a good effect. But, in most 

 cases, it proved fatal, in spite of medicines and treat- 

 ment. About five hundred died. 



LAMPAS. 



A swelling of the bars of the mouth. Young horses 

 are most subject to it. It will generally subside without 

 medical treatment. A few mashes, with light physic, 

 will generally relieve the animal. A few cuts across 

 the bars, with a penknife, in the middle part, to avoid 

 the principal artery and vein of the palate, will relieve 

 the inflammation. Burning is unnecessarily cruel, and 

 renders the part callous. Sometimes the lampas is 

 caused by the lushes coming through the gums. In that 

 case, lance the gums above the teeth. 



BLACK TONGUE. 



In the winter of 1834, an epidemic, under this name, 

 prevailed extensively in Maine, among cattle and horses. 

 The tongue swelled, turned dark, cracked, and the skin 

 peeled off, and it was so sore that it was difficult for the 

 animal to eat. Cooling laxatives, and washing the 

 tongue in a decoction of white pine bark, had a good 

 effect. The remedy used for cattle would doubtless be 

 beneficial. [See this subject under the head, "Cattle."] 



