308 ' LAMPAS. 



easily placed upon either the inner or the outer sides of the 

 teeth, and readily retained when placed. 



When the operation is to be performed, the animal to be 

 operated upon should be blindfolded, and the head steadied by 

 an experienced assistant. 



LAMPAS. 

 Lampas is am undue growth of the first edge of the palate 

 situated immediately behind the incisor teeth of the anterior jaw. 

 This undue growth of the palate is the most common to horses 

 from the third to the fifth year of their age, and is seldom seen 

 afterwards, simply because in the generality of horses the Lam- 

 pas have been removed. On some occasions the swelling of 

 the palate at this part is so large as to hang below the teeth, 

 when it is considered, and justly so, an obstructive to both 

 prehension and mastication of the food. Now, whether this 

 sweUing be in itself a cause of disturbance within the mouth, or 

 an efiect of disturbance from other sources, is a question difficult 

 to satisfactorily determine. To use a phrase of Sir Eoger de 

 Coverley "much may be said upon both sides of the question." 



Teeatment of Lampas. — I frequently receive letters from 

 gentlemen asking me how they are to treat Lampas ; whether the 

 swelling is to be burnt out or scarified, or left alone. When 

 burnt out, people cease to think about it ; " instead of burning 

 the Lampas," says Mr. Spooner in White's Farriery, " if they 

 would keep the animal entirely on bran mashes for about a 

 week, he would be able to eat his hay and corn with avidity," a 

 recommendation which is simply preposterous. If a horse so 

 affected be in work, what owner will allow him to rest a week 

 for so simple a matter ? Lampas are frequently removed with 

 a hot iron, and the animal taken to work immediately afterwards. 



