i 3 4 VETERINARY LECTURES 



INJURIES TO, AND DERANGEMENTS AND 

 DISEASES OF, THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 



225. The Lips of animals are liable to many injuries, such as 

 being torn with nails, hooks, thorns, etc. ; and are also subject to 

 warts or angle-berries. These growths, if large, may be cut off with 

 a knife or pair of scissors ; if very small and numerous, an applica- 

 tion of acetic acid twice a week, or an occasional smearing with 

 treacle, will be found beneficial. The angles of the mouth are 

 sometimes lacerated in the horse by the rough usage of the bit — 

 for this, rest and the application of some antiseptic dressing is all 

 that is required (par. 1069, No. II.). 



226. The Roof of the Mouth is often also the seat of injury. 



In cows and dogs particularly pieces of turnip, wood, nails, leather, 



bones, tin, etc., are apt to become fixed here. The animal foams at 



the mouth, cannot feed, and loses flesh. When such symptoms are 



shown, a close examination should be made, and if there is a foreign 



body it should be removed at once. When a horse is casting its 



front teeth, or nippers, the gums and bars behind the upper teeth 



usually become swollen. It does not feed well, and is said to have 



got lampas, or, more commonly, ' tampers.' Long ago a lamper 



iron used to be kept by blacksmiths. This was made red-hot, and 



the inflamed bars were burned ; but it was a most unnecessary and 



cruel operation. The congested gums are only the natural effects 



of shedding the milk-teeth. If, however, the gums are very much 



swollen, a few slight cuts with a sharp knife across the bars, but 



not too deep, will give relief ; and \ ounce of saltpetre in a mash 



should be given every night for a week (see Lecture VII., 'The 



Teeth '). 



227. The Soft Palate of the horse (or fleshy curtain which 

 hangs behind the hard palate) is occasionally damaged, from various 

 causes. For instance, it may get bruised when a ball is given on 

 the sharp end of a stick, and this may cause troublesome abscesses. 

 Balls should never be given on sticks. Use the hand, failing which, a 

 balling-gun or a balling-iron may be used {Plate LIV., No. I.). 



