THE HORSE. 
81 
cause ; but we have not a sufficient knowledge of the animal economy 
to discover that cause. 
Inflammation may be considered with reference'’ to the membranes 
which it attacks. 
The mucous membranes line all the cavities that communicate with 
the external surface of the body. There is frequent inflammation of the 
membrane of the mouth. Blain, or Glysynthrax , is a vesicular enlarge- 
ment which runs along the side of the tongue. Its cause is unknown. 
It should be lanced freely and deeply, and some aperient medicine 
administered. Barbs, or paps, are smaller enlargements, found more in 
the neighborhood of the bridle of the tongue. They should never be 
touched with any instrument : a little cooling medicine will generally 
remove them. Lampas is inflammation of the palate, or enlargement 
of the bars of the palate. The roof of the mouth may be slightly 
lanced, or a little aperient medicine administered; but the sensibility of 
the mouth should never be destroyed by the application of the heated 
iron. Canker and wounds in the mouth, from various causes, will be 
best remedied by diluted tincture of myrrh, or a weak solution of alum. 
Foreign Bodies ill the Gullet may be generally removed by means of the 
probang used in the hove of cattle ; or the oesophagus may be opened, 
and the obstructing body taken out. 
It is on the mucous membranes that poisons principally exert their 
influence. The yew is the most frequent vegetable poison. The horse 
may be saved by timely recourse to equal parts of vinegar and water 
ejected into the stomach, after the poison has been as much as possible 
removed by moans of the stomach-pump. For arsenic or corrosive 
sublimate there is rarely any antidote. 
Spasmodic Colic is too frequently produced by exposure to cold, the 
drinking of cold water, or the use of too much green food. The horse 
should be walked about, strong friction used to the belly, and spirit of 
turpentine given in doses of two ounces, with an ounce each of lauda- 
num and spirit of nitrous ether, in warm water, ale, or gruel. If the 
spasm is not soon relieved, the animal should be bled, and injections of 
warm water with a solution of aloes thrown up, if constipation exists. 
This spasmodic action of the bowels, when long continued, is liable to 
produce introsusception, or entanglement, of them ; and the case is then 
liopcless. 
Sliperpurgiltion often follows the administration of a too strong or im- 
proper dose of physic. r Uhe torture which it produces will be evident 
by the agonized expression of the countenance, and the frequent look- 
ing at the flanks. Plenty of thin starch or arrowroot should be given 
both by the mouth and by injection ; and, twelve hours having passed 
without relief being experienced, chalk, catechu, and opium should be 
added to the gruel. 
Worms in the intestines are not often productive of much mischief, 
except they exist in very great quantities. Small doses of emetic tartar 
or calomel, with a little ginger, may be given to the horse half an hour 
before his first meal, in order to expel the round white worm ; it must 
be worked off with linseed-oil or aloes, and injections of linseed-oil or 
aloes will usually remove the ascarides, or needle-worms. 
