206 THE ANATOMY AND DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND MOUTH. 



upon thc/iyrnuni, or bridle of the tongue, about an inch and a half from tho 

 front teeth. When tho horse has catarrh or cold, these glands, like the parotid 

 gland, enlarge. This is often to be observed after strangles, and several distinct 

 kernels are to be felt under the jaw. It has already been stated that they may 

 be distinguished from the swellings that accompany or indicate glanders, by 

 their being larger, generally not so distinct, more in the centre of the channel, 

 or space between the jaws, and never adhering to the jaw-bones. The farriers 

 call them vives, and often adopt cruel and absurd methods to disperse them, — 

 as burning them with a lighted candle, or hot iron, or even cutting them out. 

 They will, in the majority of instances, gradually disperse in proportion as the 

 disease which produced them subsides j or they will yield to slightly stimu- 

 lating embrocations ; or, if they are obstinate in their continuance, they are of 

 no further consequence, than as indicating that the horse has laboured under 

 severe cold or strangles. 



During catarrh or inflammation of the mouth, the little projections marking 

 the opening of these ducts on either side of the bridle of the tongue are apt to 

 enlarge, and the mouth under the tongue is a little red, and hot and tender. 

 The farriers call these swellings barbs or paps ; and as soon as they discover 

 them, mistaking the effect of disease for the cause of it, they set to work to cut 

 them close off. The bleeding that follows this operation somewhat abates the local 

 inflammation, and affords temporary relief; but the wounds will not speedily 

 heal. The saliva continues to flow from the orifice of the duct, and, running 

 into the irregularities of the wound, causes it to spread and deepen. Even 

 when it heals, the mouth of the duct being frequently closed, and the saliva 

 continuing to be secreted by the submaxillary gland, it accumulates in the duct, 

 until that vessel bursts, and abscesses are formed which eat deeply under the 

 root of the tongue and long torment the poor animal. When, after a great deal 

 of trouble, they are closed, they are apt to break out again for months and 

 years afterwards. 



All that is necessary with regard to these paps or barbs is to abate the in- 

 flammation or cold that caused them to appear, and they will very soon and 

 perfectly subside. He who talks of cutting them out is not fit to be trusted 

 with a horse. 



A third source of saliva is from glands under the tongue — the sublingual 

 glands, which open by many little orifices under the tongue, resembling little 

 folds of the skin of the mouth, hanging from the lower surface of this organ, or 

 found on the bottom of the mouth. These likewise sometimes enlarge during 

 catarrh or inflammation of the mouth, and are called gigs, and bladders, and flaps 

 in the mouth. They have the appearance of small pimples, and the farrier is 

 too apt to cut them away, or burn them off. The better way is to let them 

 alone— for in a few days they will generally disappear. Should any ulceration 

 remain, a little tincture of myrrh, or a solution of alum, will readily heal 

 them. 



Beside these three principal sources of saliva, there are small glands to be 

 found on every part of the mouth, cheeks, and lips, which pour out a consider- 

 able quantity of fluid, to assist in moistening and preparing the food. 



STRANGLES. 

 This is a disease principally incident to young horses— usually appearing 

 between the fourth and fifth year, and oftener in the spring than in any other 

 part of the year. It is preceded by cough, and can at first be scarcely distin- 

 guished from common cough, except that there is more discharge from the nos- 

 tril, of a yellowish colour, mixed with pus, and generally without smell. There 



