308 THE HORSE. 



by the pressure of the part when a tight noseband is employed to 

 keep the mouth shut. Either may be known by the existence of a 

 sore of a peculiar character ; there is a depression indicating a loss 

 of substance, and in this lies a mass of unhealthy granulation 

 (proud flesh), which is not attached to the surrounding surface, 

 being only fixed to tlie bottom of the cavity^ or perhaps partially on one 

 side. A watery and offensive discharge goes on constantly, but 

 this is lost in the saliva, and very often the only circumstance that 

 draws attention to the disease is the constant bleeding from the 

 mouth, on the slightest contact of the bit. When this occurs, the 

 mouth being full of j>inh froth, it should be carefully examined, 

 and the state of things here described will generally be found to 

 exist. The treatment should consist in the adoption of a bit 

 pressing upon another part of the mouth, changing the curb for a 

 snaffle. The wound should be kept open by the use of caustic 

 (lunar) daily, which should be pushed deeply into it for couple of 

 seconds, and will destroy the unhealthy granulations. By con- 

 tinuing these measures, taking care not to do more with the 

 caustic than necessary to keep down the fungous growth, a cure 

 can always be effected in course of time, without the aid of the 

 trephine or chisel to cut away the diseased bone. 



OSTEO SARCOMA.* 



The jaws are occasionally attacked by a malignant growth from 

 their cellular structure of a substance partaking of the nature both 

 of cartilage and bone. It increases sometimes to an enormous size, 

 and forms a large irregular tumor, which interferes terribly with 

 their functions, often growing so as to prevent the closure of the 

 teeth. The symptoms are entirely local, and when a large, unwieldy, 

 and irregularly hard swelling on either of the jaws is met with, it 

 may safely be set down as belonging to this class of disease. No 

 treatment is of any avail except excision, which can rarely be carried 

 through without rendering the horse unserviceable for his ordinary 

 duties. 



FRACTURES. 



Bones are not unfrequently broken in the horse ; but as the 

 accident generally occurs either during the violent exertion of the 

 muscles of the limb, or from great external force, it follows that in 

 most cases the injury to the soft parts is so great as to forbid the 

 hope of a perfect reparation. When, for instance, a canna or 

 pastern bone gives way during the shock sustained in coming down 



* Osteo Sarcoma is very frequent in the western and south-western States, 

 and is known by the name of " Big Head" (Osteo Porosis), arising from 

 the deposition of too much bony matter. Treatment is unsatisfactory, as 

 the disease is gradual and progressive in its character, stopping mastication : 

 and death from starvation is the result. — Editor. 



