THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 295 



stands higher than the others. Sharp, ragged teeth have 

 been often overlooked, and the poor animal physicked and 

 doctored for all sorts of internal complaints, even ulcera- 

 tions in the mouth and lampas, when a scrutiny of the teeth 

 and a rasp were all that was required for the restoration of 

 the services of a valuable animal. 



PARROT MOUTH. 



By this appellation horse people understand what dog- 

 fanciers call "overhung," i.e., a mouth so formed — or rather 

 so malformed — that the upper jaw projects considerably 

 beyond the lower ; so much that the inferior incisor teeth, 

 instead of meeting the upper, come in contact, when the 

 mouth is shut, with the bars of the palate, while the teeth 

 of the superior jaw have no opposing surface whatever, 

 unless the lower lip can be so regarded. This deformity is 

 not of very common occurrence. The horse has less power 

 of gathering up his hay and corn with his lips, and of the 

 retention of the food while being transferred to the 

 grinders, as is seen by the animal, while feeding, wasting 

 part of his corn and slobbering. In grazing, the parrot 

 mouth is yet more disadvantageous, much difficulty being 

 experienced in nipping off the grass ; this seems the chief 

 objection to the purchase of such a horse. There is, of 

 course, no remedy for such a malformation. 



INJURIES TO THE MOUTH AND TEETH. 



Colts, while breaking, are often hurt in the mouth by 

 pressure of the bit ; and the lower jaw of many horses is 

 injured by the snaffle between the teeth and first grinder. 

 "When severe damage is done, the bone exfoliates, or abscess 

 is formed in the jaw. In this case mashes should be given, 

 and to prevent the formation of sinuses, the bone cut down 

 upon, and chloride of zinc, one drachm, water one quart, 

 and a little essence of aniseed syringed into the opening 

 several times a day. Don't let the wound heal, but keep 

 open with the knife, so that the exfoliated bone may come 

 away freely when grasped by the forceps. 



Injuries under the tongue and on the roof of the mouth 

 are sometimes occasioned by the " port " of the bit. If 

 there is much inflammation and tumidness, bleed locally, 



