THE HORSE—THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 87 
_ always best in this kind of choking to pour down well-cooked gruel or 
water to break up the mass and carry it into the stomach a little at a time. 
The last resort is the opening of the gullet by a surgeon. After the 
removal of the object, and the stitching of the wound, no solid food should 
be given for some time. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH AND TONGUE. 
This is caused by bruises from severe bits; biting of the tongue; lick- 
ing irritating substances; improper administration of medicines, such as 
turpentine and ammonia; injuries from giving balls; teething; irregular or 
decayed teeth, 
Symptoms.—Mouth red, painful and swollen; much fever; free dis- 
charge of mucus; peeling off of the mucous membrane of the mouth, 
followed by new sores, ulceration, and perhaps gangrene; the tongue 
sometitnes hangs out, possibly with formation of matter, or it may remain 
stiff, hard and enlarged; difficult swallowing; obstructed respiration, with 
threatened choking; perhaps suppuration. 
TREATMENT.—Should any feverish symptoms be present, give aconite 
every four hours. When local inflammation alone exists, give belladonna. 
When, after the inflammation has remained some time, the tongue is swol- 
len and hard, and salivation continues, administer mercurius corrosivus. 
When the inflammation has been caused by injuries, arnica may be given 
internally, and a lotion of the same may also be applied to the wound. 
Arsenicum is valuable when gangrene is threatened or the discharge is 
offensive. In cases threatened with gangrene, or attended with an offen- 
sive discharge from the mouth, a wash should be used composed of two 
dessert-spoonfuls of Condy’s Fluid anda half-pint of water. When this’ 
cifficulty is a simple inflammation from deranged digestion or other causes, 
wash the mouth frequently with cool astringent agencies, as vinegar and 
water, alum, tannin, tincture of myrrh, or a very weak solution of carbolic 
acid, ten drops to a pint of water. Sometimes the tongue becomes so 
much swollen as to threaten suffocation, and matter also forms in it. In 
these cases a cutting or scarifying of the tongue becomes necessary, fol- 
lowed by washing the mouth four or five times a day with a lotion com- 
posed of one ounce of calendula and twelve ounces of water. As food, 
give oatmeal-gruel or linseed-tea, by drenches if necessary. Give all the 
cold water the animal wants. Should ulcerations “gather” or point, 
lance them. On examination of the list of causes one will readily infer that 
irritating drugs are to be given with care, the teeth to be watched, and the 
food carefully regulated. 
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