OP VETERINARY MEDICINE. ^? 



naturally expects to find something wrong with the mouth. We 

 usually find that the bar of the curb bit (the usual bit for coach 

 horses in order to give them proud carriage) does not fit the 

 mouth or jaw ; and for that very purpose, to make the horse 

 prance and make him showy, the coachman has the lines buckled 

 down in the curb and touches him up with the whip. Occasion- 

 ally the horse gets crazy, especially a young horse, under such 

 irritating conditions. The horse pulls hard on the bit, and the 

 bar bit with the chain underneath is brought back against the 

 sharp edge of the jaw, it cuts through the tissues, and injures the 

 bone. The contused bone dies and sloughs off. This condition 

 makes a very sore mouth, therefore always look for the cause. 



The horse that slobbers too freely while eating cannot be 

 cured unless you can find some mechanical cause, as the sharp 

 molars. If you do, round them ofif, especially the front molars 

 where the bit pulls against them. It may be necessary to change 

 the bit for a time ; get a bit that will bring pressure on the sides 

 of the bone instead of on the bar. Recommend a chain bit cov- 

 ered with leather or rubber. A straight bar bit is an abomina- 

 tion in a horse's mouth, such a bit should never be used. 



SALIVARY FISTULA. 



The duct of Steno carries the saliva from the parotid gland to 

 the mouth, passing down on the inside of the lower jaw, round- 

 ing the bone to the outside of it and passes upward on the edge 

 of the masseter muscle and empties into the mouth opposite the 

 third upper molar. In a fistula this duct becomes opened — it is 

 difficult to say exactly what does open it, but it is so exposed to 

 injury by blows of various kinds — from kicks, from rubbing on 

 the manger, etc., that it is probably opened in this way. 



Treatment. — Establish an opening between the fistula and the 

 mouth through the natural passage. To do this pass a stiff 

 silver-plated probe, a small one first to establish the opening 

 into the mouth, then use a larger one. By increasing the size 

 of the probe in the course of four or 'five days you will be able 

 to pass a sound which is at least a quarter of an inch in diameter. 

 Then put a speculum into the mouth, but do not open too wide; 



