th:e: horse its 



Symptoms. — Loss of appetite, and, on examina- 

 tion, a swelled condition of the roof of the mouth. 



Causes. — In young hoi'ses, teething. In old 

 horses, very often u'reguiarity of the molar teeth, 

 bit injuries, or indigestion. 



Treatment. — If the molars are at fault, the 

 irregularity may be removed by a rasp. The 

 diet must consist of wet bran and soft food for a 

 day or two, until the uiiiammation subsides and 

 the mouth is no longer tender. The cruel practice 

 of burning the palate v» ith a hot iron, which was 

 in old days considered the recognized cure, is as 

 useless as it is brutal, and is never now done. 



Mange 



Due to a parasitical insect which burrows into 

 the skin. 



Symptoms. — Minute pustules usually commenc- 

 ing on the vv^ithers or croup, which burst and 

 coalesce and form patches of encrustation on the 

 skin. The hah' falls out, and the skin becomes 

 harsh and sore if the horse rubs himself to relieve 

 the intolerable itching. 



Causes. — Bad food, by lowering an animal's 

 condition, may predispose it to ^' catch " mange, 

 but if it is well groomed, the parasites cannot get 



