DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE 129 
some time, the best treatment is to adjust a muzzle over the 
mouth, removing it only to give sufficient time to eat. 
10. Foreign Substances in the Mouth. 
Sometimes a piece of stick becomes fastened across the 
roof of the mouth. This prevents proper eating. There is a 
continual working of the tongue round in the mouth and if 
the obstruction be not removed there will be a "falling off in 
flesh." In such cases examine the mouth carefully and 
remove with pincys or the fingers. 
Barley or Wheat Beards. — When horses are fed on bar- 
ley, wheat straw or chaff containing beards the mouth should 
be examined every week or two, for in a great many cases 
the beards get so lodged in the mouth that the animal cannot 
remove them with his tongue. 
Symptoms. — The horse does not feed well, his breath is 
bad and his mouth seems sore when you handle it ; he 
becomes gaunt and thin. 
Treatment. — In all cases where food of this kind is being 
fed examine the mouth carefully at regular intervals. If any 
beards are found remove them with the finger and wash the 
sore place with alum water twice a day until it heals up. 
Use two teaspoonfuls of alum to a pint of water. 
11. Injuries to the Tongue. 
The tongue is sometimes injured by pulling too hard on 
it when drawing it out of the mouth. It may even become 
paralyzed in this way. Little can be done for this ; merely 
give very soft food, so soft that he can almost drink it. Give 
also a teaspoonful of powdered nux vomica three times a day 
on the tongue with a spoon. Pulling back, when tied by the 
bit, may injure the tongue. In some cases it is almost cut off. 
If there is no chance of the tongue being healed it is best to 
remove it with a knife and apply Monsel's solution of iron to 
stop the bleeding, if any. Then bathe with a little alum 
water three or four times a day for a few days, until it heals. 
Use one teaspoonful of alum to one pint of water. Feed on 
soft food for a few days, w'lile it is healing. Should it not 
be necessary to remove the tongue, treat it same manner 
as after removal. 
