THE PHARYNX. 136 



bleeding will not only be unnecessary, but injurious. It will delay 

 the suppuration of the tumor, and increase the subsequent 

 debiUty. A few cooling medicines, as nitre, emetic tartar, and 

 perhaps digitalis, may be given, as the case requires. The appe- 

 tite, or raxher the ability to eat, will return with the opening of 

 the abscess. Bran-mashes, or fresh-cut-grass or tares, should be 

 liberally supplied, which wiU not only afford sufficient nourish- 

 ment to recruit tiie strength of the animal, but keep the bowels 

 gently open. If the weakness is not great, no farther medicine 

 will be wanted, except a dose of mild physic in order to prevent 

 the swellings or eruptions which sometimes succeed to strangles 

 In cases of debility, a small quantity of tonic medicine, as 

 chamomile, gentian, or ginger, may be administered.* 



THE PHARYNX 



Proceeding to the back of the mouth, we find the pharynx 

 {carrying or conveying the food towards the stomach). It com- 

 niences at the root of the tongue (see 7, 8 and 9, Fig. 3.) ; is 

 separated from the mouth by the soft palate (7), which hangs 

 down from the palatine bone at 8, and extends to the epiglottis 

 or covering to the windpipe. 



In order to understand the diseases of these parts, the anatomy 

 of the neck generally must be considered. 



* Note by Mr. Spooner. — A blister is, unque- tionably, the best topical 

 application ; but it should be washed oif as soon as it rises, by Tvhich means 

 it can be repeated in a day or two, and so the actiou can be kept up, which i 

 will greatly promote the suppuratiye process. After the abscess is lanced, 

 a linseed poultice will be a very desirable application ; and, with regard to 

 injections, they may be omitted without injury. Although the ages from 

 two to five are the usual period for strangles to appear, yet it occasionally 

 attacks old animals ; we nave, indeed, known it affect a horse sixteen years 

 old, and within the last month an animal eight years old, but such instances 

 are rare. 



It is a very desirable thing in strangles to get the submaxillary abscess 

 to form and suppurate without much delay ; for when it is suppressed, or 

 does not form in this place, there is sometimes danger to be apprehended ; 

 occasionally, abscesses will form internally, and carry off the patient. The 

 symptoms of these untoward cases are an unthrifty coat, occasional shiver 

 ing fits, and a pulse rather accelerated. 



When the glands remain hard, and do not suppurate, the disease is fre- 

 quently termed bastard strangles, and may lead to glanders. The use 

 of iodine, applied externally as an ointment, and internally as hydriodate 

 of potass, in daily doses of five to ten grains combined with tonics, will be 

 found useful 



