78 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



the sensitiveness of the mouth. The differences of sensibility, which 

 are quite common, proceed from another cause. We have already 

 spoken of this a propos of the bars and the chin. 



In a normal state, the tongue should always be kept in the in- 

 terior of the buccal cavity. It helps to support the bit and, in con- 

 cert with the lips, it receives its first impression. Some horses have 

 the bad habit of doubling the tongue within the mouth by recurving 

 its free extremity above or underneath the bit. This can be readily 

 detected by separating the lips from each other, and is remedied by 

 tightening the curb-chain. 



The integrity and entireness of the tongue should never escape 

 the attention of the veterinarian. When a horse, tied with the reins 

 of the bridle, or with a strap passed through the mouth, becomes 

 frightened, he will throw himself violently backward and support 

 the weight of the body entirely by the mouth, the point of attach- 

 ment. Then, if the means of attachment does not break, the tongue 

 may be sufficiently compressed by the bit or the strap to be cut trans- 

 versely. We know of an instance of this kind in which the free por- 

 tion was completely separated and fell to the ground. This is always 

 a grave accident. If the section be incomplete, mastication is slow and 

 imperfect ; if it be complete, death may be the consequence, as it was in 

 the instance mentioned above. A horse should, therefore, never be at- 

 tached to the reins of the bridle or to a strap passed through the mouth. 



The tongue may become lacerated or cut ? more or less deeply, on 

 its lateral borders from irregularities of the molar arcades, which 

 are denticulated in old horses. These wounds are very painful and 

 prevent the animal from masticating his food. The remedy is the 

 dressing of the teeth. 



There are some horses whose tongue, during work or at rest, pro- 

 trudes from the mouth and becomes pendulous; this is called lolling 

 the tongue. 1 



In other cases it is alternately protruded and retracted in a manner 

 which simulates the movements of a serpent's tongue ; hence the 

 appropriate designation, serpentine. 



Both of these conditions are ungraceful, deleterious from the con- 

 stant loss of saliva which could be utilized in digestion, and finally the 

 organ ceases to give the same point of support to the bit which it 

 furnishes in ordinary circumstances. 



1 1 have seen an instance in which this was temporarily prevented by the application of a 

 rubber band to its free portion, the effect of which, however, was an almost complete section 

 of the organ. (Harger.) 



