66 



advisable to commence treatment by administering a purgative medicine. 

 Barbadoes aloes is the best purgative, and is given preferably in the form of 

 a ball, in doses of five, six, or seven drachms, depending upon the size and 

 condition of the animal. It is of the greatest importance that the aloes 

 be of the best quality. Much of that sold is really unfit for use, and great 

 care is therefore necessary in procuring the drug. In all cases where a full 

 dose of aloes is given, three full days' rest is absolutely necessary. In 

 addition to the cathartic, clysters of water at about ioo° F. should be given, 

 and repeated at intervals of two or three hours if necessary. In addition, a 

 drench composed of one ounce of sulphuric ether, one ounce of tincture of 

 opium, one ounce of nitric ether, and half an ounce of powdered pimento, 

 should be given at intervals of one or two hours, in a pint of gruel, as may be 

 necessary. Some recommend Fleming's tincture of aconite, but this remedy 

 is not necessary in the treatment of simple colic. 



Hot fomentations, and stimulating liniments, or mustard, may with 

 advantage be applied to the abdomen. The diet should consist of warm 

 water and bran mashes. 



In flatulent colic it is advisable that the drenches should also contain 

 •one ounce of aromatic spirit of ammonia. 



LAM PAS. 



AVE will now turn to the consideration of the diseases of the mouth, and in 

 this connection shall treat of lampas, inflammation of the mouth, 

 inflammation of the tongue, crib-biting, and wind-sucking. 



Some of our readers will be a little surprised to hear that lampas is not 

 a disease at all. It is merely a swollen condition of the palate, occasioned 

 by a determination of blood to this part, which is the seat of active changes, 

 during the development of the teeth in young horses. Gamgee, in his work 

 on the domestic animals in health and disease, states that whence the 

 absurd name lampas is derived, he cannot venture to determine ; but he 

 observes that it has done much mischief, by being regarded as a specific 

 name for a specific disease, supposed to require active treatment by the hot 

 iron. In many instances this swollen condition of the palate which manifests 

 itself by projecting below the level of the front teeth requires no treatment. 

 Sometimes lampas occurs as a manifestation of disorder of the stomach or 

 intestinal organs. When it is due to a congested condition of the gum, 

 occasioned by teething, a few pricks with a lancet, or bathing the part with 

 an astringent solution, consisting of two drachms of alum and one ounce of 

 tincture of myrrh to twelve ounces of water, will relieve the irritation. The 

 latter method of procedure is much the best for the amateur, as it is nearly 

 always sufficient. Care must be taken in lancing the gum not to cut the 

 artery underneath. The animal should be fed for a few days on mashes, 

 and half an ounce of bicarbonate of potassium with two drachms of nitre, may 

 be given in the drinking water twice daily. 



