WOUNDS IN THE MOUTH. 151 



fully be distinguished from the oppression and choakintr occasioned by the 

 pressure of the tumour, it will be proper to bleed. In the majority of 

 cases, however, bleeding will riot only be unnecessary, but injurious. It 

 will delay the suppuration of the tumour, and increase the subsequent 

 debility. A few cooUng medicines, as nitre, emetic tartar, and perhaps 

 dig-italis, may be given, as the case requires. The appetite, or rather the 

 ability to eat, will return with the opening of the abscess. Bran-mashes, 

 or fresh cut grass or tares, should be liberally supplied, which will not only 

 afford sufficient nourishment to recruit the strength of the animal, but 

 keep the bowels gently open. If the weakness be not great, no further 

 medicine will be wanted, except a dose of mild physic, to prevent the 

 swellings or eruptions which sometimes succeed to strangles. In cases of 

 debility, a small quantity of tonic medicine, as camomile, and gentian with 

 ginger, in doses of a couple of drachms, may be administered. 



As strangles seem to be a disease from which few horses escape, and which, 

 although attended with little danger, is sometimes tedious in its progress, 

 and accompanied by much debility, some foreign veterinary surgeons have 

 endeavoured to produce a milder disorder by inoculating, either with the 

 matter from the tumour, or the discharge from the nose ; and it is said 

 that a disease, with all the characters of strangles, but shorter and milder 

 in its course, has supervened. English practitioners have not, we believe, 

 tried the experiment. 



CANKER AND WOUNDS IN THE MOUTH. 



The mouth is injured much oftener than the careless owner suspects, by 

 the pressure of a sharp bit. Not only are the bars wounded and deeply 

 ulcerated, but the lower jaw between the tush and the grinders is some- 

 times torn even to the bone, and the bone itself affected, and portions of 

 it come away. It may be necessary to have a sharp bit for the headstrong 

 and obstinate beast, yet if that be severely and unjustifiably called into 

 exercise, the animal may rear, and endanger himself and his rider ; but 

 there can be no occasion for a thousandth part of the torment which the 

 trappings of the mouth often inflict on a willing and docile servant, and 

 which either render the mouth hard, and destroy all the pleasure of riding, 

 or cause the horse to become fretful or vicious. 



Small ulcers are sometimes found in various parts of the mouth, said to 

 be produced by rusty bits, but oftener arising from contusions inflicted by 

 the bit, or from inflammation of the mouth. If the curb-bit is in fault, a 

 snaffle or Pelham bit should be used ; if there be inflammation of the 

 mouth, a little cooling medicine may be administered ; and to the ulcers 

 themselves, tincture of myrrh, diluted with an equal quantity of water, or 

 an ounce of alum dissolved in twenty times the weight of water, may be 

 applied with advantage. 



THE PHARYNX. 



Proceeding to the back of the mouth, we find the pharynx (^carrying or 

 conveying the food towards the stomach.) It begins at the root of the 

 tongue, (see 7, 8, and 9, p. 68 ;) is separated from the mouth by the soft 

 palate (7) which hangs down from the palatine bone at 8, and extends to 

 the epiglottis or covering to the windpipe. When the food has been suffi- 

 ciently ground by the teeth, and mixed with the saliva, it is gathered 

 together by the tongue, and then by the action of the cheeks and tongue and 



