DISEASES OF THE MOUTH. 45 



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

 It is almost impossible to convince them to the contrary ; yet it is 

 not the case. It may be put down, then, as an affliction of the stable- 

 man's imagination rather than of the horse's mouth. 



Stomatitis. — This in an inflammation of the mucous membrane 

 lining the mouth and is produced by irritating medicines, foods, or 

 other substances. The symptoms are swelling of the mouth, which 

 is also hot and painful to the touch ; there is a copious discharge of 

 saliva; the mucous membrane is reddened, and in some cases there 

 are observed vesicles or ulcers in the mouth. The treatment is simple, 

 soft feed alone often being all that is necessary. A bucket of fresh 

 cold water should be kept constantly in the manger so that the horse 

 may drink or rinse his mouth at will. In some instances it may be 

 advisable to use a wash of chlorate of potash, borax, or alum, about 

 one-half ounce to a pint of water. Hay, straw, or oats should not be 

 fed unless steamed or boiled. A form of contagious stomatitis some- 

 times occurs that is characterized by the formation within the mouth 

 of small vesicles, or blisters. In this disease the horse should be 

 isolated from other horses, and his stall, especially the feed box, and 

 his bit should be disinfected. 



Glossitis, or inflammation of the tongue, is very similar to the 

 above, and mostly exists with it and is due to the same causes. In- 

 juries to the tongue may produce this simple inflammation of its 

 covering membrane, or, if severe, may produce lesions much more 

 extensive, such as lacerations, abscesses, etc. These latter would re- 

 quire surgical treatment, but for the simpler forms of inflammation 

 of the tongue the treatment recommended for stomatitis should be 

 followed. 



Plyalism, or salivation, consists in an abnormal and excessive se- 

 cretion of saliva. This is often seen as a symptom of irregular teeth ; 

 inflammation of the mouth or tongue, or of the use of such medicines 

 as lobelia, mercury, and many others. Some foods produce this, such 

 as clover, and particularly second crop ; foreign bodies, such as nails, 

 Avheat chaff, and corncobs becoming lodged in the mouth. If the 

 cause is removed no further attention is necessary, as a rule. Astrin- 

 gent washes may be applied to the mouth as a gargle or by means of 

 a sponge. 



Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining 

 of the pharynx or throat. It rarely exists unless accompanied by 

 stomatitis or laryngitis, especially the latter. In those rare instances 

 in which the inflammation is mostly confined to the pharynx are 

 noticed febrile symptoms — difficulty of swallowing either liquids or 

 solids ; there is but little cough except when trying to swallow ; there 

 is no soreness on pressure over larynx (head of the windpipe). In- 

 creased flow of saliva, difficulty of swallowing liquids in particular. 

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