THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 449 



band keeps the mouth shut down. The gums of the lower jaw are very 

 often hurt, and not infrequently the bone itself is so bruised as to result 

 in this ulceration. When this is the case, the gum, unless forcibly opened, 

 must slough, so that the injured portion of the bone can be cast off. Thus 

 a stinking sore is made, and one of long continuance, as the scaling of the 

 bone and the escape of the loosened particles is a tedious process, and 

 •ttended no little suffering. 



How to know it. — Examination of the gums is necessary to disclose the 

 trouble when it exists simply as a bruise. The spot will appear ol" a 

 color different from the adjacent parts, and pressure upon it will cause 

 the animal to wince with pain. Even if neglected till there is a discharg- 

 ing sore, it is not always detected at once, as the discharge is, in the 

 beginning, of a watery character, and is lost in the saliva, though con- 

 stantly going on. On contact with the bit, however, there is a mixture 

 of blood and watery matter, and some of this escapes constantly while 

 the horse is in use. This ought to attract the attention of the master, if 

 nothing else has, and lead to thorough examination. There will be found, 

 in that case, a depression in the gum, and, fixed to the bottom of the 

 -cavity, a mass of proud flesh. The discharge will be characterized by a 

 very offensive stench. 



What to do. — If the bruised place on the gum, accompanied with sens- 

 itiveness to pressure, is discovered before there is any break or exudation 

 of matter, have a strong, keen knife, and cut to the bone. The incision 

 made ought to correspond with the extent of the bruised bone. The 

 grating of the knife upon this sore portion will cause the horse to strug- 

 gle with more or less violence, owing to the exceeding soreness and ten- 

 derness of the injured part ; and this may in some sort furnish a guide 

 as to the amount of incision necessary. If the opening is too small for 

 the scaled bone to be easily cast out, it will be necessary to employ the 

 bone forceps with which to grasp and withdraw it. 



Upon cutting it, a thin, watery fluid will flow out. Care must now be 

 taken to see that the incision is not allowed to close over and retain the 

 injured bone, as this would ultimately result in a foul and troublesome 

 ulcer. 



When the discharge has somewhat thickened, and is peculiarly of- 

 fensive to the smell, showing that the bone is decaying and that nature is 

 making an effort to cast off the injured portion, wash it out with the 

 «yringe, several times a day, with the following solution : 



Ko. 188. 1 Scruple chloride of zinc, 



i Drachma essence of anise seed, 

 1 Pint water. 



