52 THB HORSa. 



Wkat to Do. The only thing that can be done in most cases, is to 

 take the tooth out, and this should only be attempted by the veteri- 

 narian. 



Parrot-mouth. This is a deformity of the mouth that interferes 

 with the teeth fitting properly one over the other, hence hindering 

 proper mastication and thus indirectly digestion. In a parrot-mouth 

 the upper incisors (front cutting teeth) project in front of and beyond 

 the lower ones. The teeth of both jaws become unusually long, as 

 they are not worn down by friction. Horses having parrot-mouths find 

 it very difficult to eat grass if not cut for them. 



What to Do. lyittle can be done, except to frequently examine the 

 mouth and if the teeth of the lower jaw become so long that they bruise 

 the ' 'bars' ' of the upper jaw, they must be shortened by the rasp or saw. 

 Horses with this deformity should never be left entirely at pasture. 



DISEASES OF THE MOUTH. 



I/ampas. The mucous membrane (skin) covering the hard palate 

 (roof of the front part of upper jaw) occasionally becomes swelled and 

 projects in a more or less prominent ridge just back of the upper front 

 teeth (incisors.) This is called lampas. In rare instances, particularly 

 while teething, there is congestion and swelling of this part of the roof 

 of the mouth sufficient to interfere with feeding. In one instance only 

 in the extensive practice of Dr. Michener has he found a case where the 

 swelhng was so^extensive as to have it caught between the front teeth 

 when the horse attempted to eat. 



What to Do. If the swelling is very bad a resort to scarifying 

 should be had, being careful not to cut deeply into the structures. A 

 wash of strong alum water may also be beneficial. Burning of the 

 lampas, so often recommended, is cruel and unnecessary, it should 

 never be permitted, as it often causes serious results to follow. 



NoTB. — It is a quite common opinion among owners of horses and 

 stablemen that lampas is a disease that very frequently exists. In fact 

 whenever a horse fails to eat, and if he does not exhibit very marked 

 symptoms of a severe illness, they say at once ' 'he has the lampas. " It is 

 almost impossible to convince them of their error, yet in a practice of 

 fifteen years Dr. Michener has never seen but two or three cases of what 

 is called lampas that gave the least trouble, or that called for any treat- 

 ment whatever. It may be put down, then, as more of a disease of the 

 stableman's imagination than of the horse's mouth. 



