SURGEON HEATH'S SKILL. 201 



"For the first fortiiiglit I do not think the animal 

 took more than a gallon of the thin mashes and gruel 

 with which he was supplied ; but after that time the 

 use of the muscles of the tongue began to return, and 

 he was able to swallow a little. In about three weeks 

 he could lick up oatmeal and oilcake gruel made thick, 

 and in less than a month I removed the bandage (al- 

 though the sphnts remained for six weeks), as by this 

 time he could swallow a little pulped mangold grass, 

 cut into chaff. For nine weeks he could only feed on 

 cut fodder, when he w^as turned out to grass. At the 

 present time he is in perfect health, feeding on ordi- 

 nary diet and working constantly. The first and sec- 

 ond grinders, which were loosened, appear now to be 

 as firmly fixed as the others." 



The editor of "The Veterinarian" reports the case 

 of a pony that came near starving from having a stick 

 fastened in its mouth. Xo fracture of the bone was 

 produced, but the account of the case is worthy of in- 

 sertion here notwithstanding that fact, for it illustrates 

 a class of mishaps to which the horse is subject. He 

 says ("Veterinarian," 1855, p. 330): 



"A pony was turned into a pasture, and was not 

 seen for several days. The owner found it standing in 

 a corner of the field, looking dejected and thin, with a ^ 

 small quantity of viscid saliva escaping from its mouth. 

 He took care of the pony for a few days, during w^hich 

 time it took nothing but a little water, which it drank 

 with great difficulty. Our attendance was now re- 

 quested. Examination disclosed a stick about the size 

 of one's finger, firmly w^edged across the palate, be- 

 tween the corner incisors. Its pressure had produced 



