434 DISEASES OF DIGESTION. 



Lampas 



is a swollen condition of the palate, which, when thus affected, 

 projects below the level of the upper front teeth. It is usually 

 met with in young animals, as a consequence of the large supply 

 of blood which is present for the growth of the teeth. It may be 

 caused, in horses of any age, by cold, indigestion, etc. As lampas, 

 except when it occurs from teething, is merely a symptom of 

 derangement of health, the part should not, as a rule, be inter- 

 fered with in any way; a couple of bran mashes, with ^ oz. of 

 nitre in each of them, or 4 oz. of Epsom salts daily for a few days, 

 being all that is generally necessary. If, from congestion of the 

 gums during teething, the horse " quids " his food, and it is not 

 convenient to put him out of work for a few days, the palate may 

 be lightly scored with a lancet or penknife — care being taken not to 

 wound the artery which lies underneath — and then rubbed with 

 common salt. Bathing the part with a strong solution of alum 

 and water will generally be sufficient, without lancing it. 



Choking. 



This term applies to obstruction of the gullet as well as to that 

 of the windpipe. 



Choking is usually caused by the horse ravenously swallowing 

 a quantity of dry food, which becomes impacted in his gullet ; 

 or by pieces of carrots or other roots, eggs (given by the groom 

 with the idea of improving the condition), or hard physic balls, 

 sticking in the gullet. It is not uncommon for draught horses to 

 become choked on being started off when they have food in their 

 mouths. In this case, the windpipe becomes pressed between the 

 collar and the bolus of food in the gullet. Sometimes the horse 

 becomes choked in draught, on account of too small a collar com- 

 pressing the windpipe. The same thing may happen when casting 

 an animal with ropes. The necessary precautions are too obvious 

 for detail. 



Although obstruction of the windpipe will kill in three or four 

 minutes, that of the gullet may not prove fatal for several days. I 

 saw an instance of choking that became spontaneously relieved after 

 ninety-six hours of complete obstruction, during which time any 

 food or drink taken was returned through the nostrils; the cause 

 of obstruction being a physic ball. The destructive changes set 

 up by the presence of the ball for such a long period in the gullet, 

 caused the death of the animal in about three months' time. 



