181 
DISEASE IN THE MOUTH OF A HEIFER ARISING 
FROM A FOREIGN SUBSTANCE BEING FIXED 
IN THE CHEEK. 
By Harry Olver, M.R.C.V.S., Edingall, near Tamworth. 
On Monday, the 9th of January, I was requested by Mr. 
Hatchett, of this place, to see a two-year-old heifer, which I 
did on the following morning, and found that she had an en- 
largement on the side of the face, which I was informed had 
existed since the first week in July, 1870, but had lately 
been getting much larger. 
On external examination, the growth appeared to be a 
morbid deposit arising from an injury, but not being able to 
satisfy myself why it varied so much in size, as it was 
described to do from time to time, I determined on pass- 
ing my hand up the mouth to examine it more particularly, 
when, opposite the two last molar teeth, I felt a smooth hard 
substance resembling bone, which appeared to be growing 
from the side of the mouth. After some manipulation I 
discovered a small opening at the inferior part, which I gra- 
dually enlarged so as to admit two fingers. I then removed 
from between the substance and the side of the mouth more 
than a pint of partially masticated decomposing food, after 
which I proceeded to extract the offending substance, 
which, in about half an hour with the aid of instruments, I 
succeeded in doing, when I found it to consist of a flat piece 
of tin, resembling the cover of an ordinary mustard canister, 
with the edges flattened, but so broken into small pieces 
as to leave sharp points which cut like so many knives. 
The tin was about three inches across in either direction, 
and being placed perpendicularly it must have had a cutting 
action every time the mouth was closed. 
The muscles and mucous membrane on the side of the mouth 
were almost entirely ulcerated away, but with soft nutritious 
food and careful treatment the animal is now progressing favor- 
ably, although, of course, she is in an emaciated condition. 
It appears to me very extraordinary that a beast could live 
without any extra food or attention for so long a time, with 
such an impediment to its masticatory organs, as, doubtless, 
the tin had been in the mouth from the first appearance of 
the tumour. 
