748 DISEASES AND ABNORMALITIES OF THE YOUNG ANIMAL. 



condition in children which goes by the same name — being characterized 

 by the friBnum hnguas being too narrow from above to below, and too 

 much prolonged forward, sometimes extending to the root of the lower 

 incisor teeth. This anomaly greatly hinders the prehension of food and 

 swallowing of fluids ; the Calf, if drinking out of a bucket, vainly 

 plunges its face into the fluid as far as the eyes. The teat is seized 

 with difficulty, and the tongue is so limited in its movements that it 

 cannot be protruded to lick the nostrils, as is the custom with Bovine 

 and some other creatures. The defect is often unperceived, and the 

 young creature loses condition, becomes weak, and eventually suc- 

 cumbs. 



The treatment is very simple. It consists merely in dividing the 

 frtenum to such an extent that the organ may recover its liberty of 

 movement. Immediately after the operation, the creature protrudes 

 its tongue to lick the blood which escapes, and it can drink with ease. 

 The wound heals in a few days without any precautions. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

 Cleft Palate. 



I CAN find no mention of this congenital defect in animals, though of 

 its occurrence there can be no doubt ; as some years ago I saw a 

 thoroughbred Foal with a cleft palate at the Eltham Stud Stables. 

 When it sucked or drank a large portion of the fluid escaped by the 

 nostrils. The animal was not submitted to treatment, and I do not 

 know what became of it. The fissure may have closed as the creature 

 grew up. 



If the cleft remains permanent, operative treatment might be 

 attempted. The procedure would, of course, depend upon the extent 

 of the fissure and the species of animal to be operated upon. 



