The Farmers Own Book 4

The Farmers Own Book 4

LAMPASS.

 

The lampass is a swelling of the gums on the inner side of the upper

jaw, to which young horses are mostly subject, and sometimes suffer

considerably before it is discovered.

 

In some cases the swelling will subside without further medical treatment

than administering a few alteratives, and feeding on bran mashes, but

should this fail it will have to be cured by cutting across the bars with

a lancet or pen-knife. If, however, it returns in three or four months

after this operation, which it sometimes does, take a sharp, flat piece

of iron, a little crooked at one end, heat it and burn out the disease a

little below the level of the teeth, being very careful not to let the

iron rest or bear against the teeth. After this operation give the horse

a little meal, mixed with a small quantity of salt, and feed on mashes.

 

 

THE PROCESS OF TEETHING.

 

At 1½ years of age the mark in the central nippers will be much shorter

and fainter; that in the other pairs will have undergone an evident

change, and all the nippers become flat.

 

At 2 years this will be more manifest, and about this period a fifth will

appear. Now, likewise, another process is commencing: the first teeth are

adapted to the size and wants of the young animal, and are sufficiently

large to fill the colt’s jaws.

 

At 3 years old the horse should have the central permanent nippers

growing, the other two pairs wasting away; six grinders in each jaw above

and below, the first and fifth level with the others, and the sixth

protruding; the sharp edge of the incisors, which will be very evident

when compared to the neighboring teeth.

 

At 4 years the central nippers will be fully developed, with the edge

somewhat worn off, and the mark in them shorter, wider and fainter;

the next pair will have made their appearance with the mark deep, and

extending entirely across them. The corner nippers will be larger than

the inside ones, yet smaller than they were and flat, with the mark

nearly effaced. The sixth grinder will have become level with the others,

and the tushes beginning to make their appearance.

 

At 5 years the horse’s mouth is almost perfect. The corner nippers are

quite up with the long, deep mark, irregular on the inside, and the

other nippers bearing evident tokens of increasing wearing. The tush is

much grown, the grooves have almost or quite disappeared, and the outer

surface is regularly convex.

 

At 6 years the mark on the central nippers is worn out, though there is

still a difference in the color of the centre of the teeth. The cement

filling the hole, made by the dipping in of enamel, will present a

browner hue than the other part of the teeth.

 

At 7 years the mark in the manner which we have described it, has worn

out in the four central nippers, and is fast disappearing in the corner

teeth; the tush also is beginning to alter--it is rounding at the point,

the edges, and without, and beginning to get round inside.

 

At 8 years old the tush is rounded in every way, the mark has disappeared

from all the bottom nippers, and it may almost be said to be out of the

mouth. There is nothing remaining in the bottom nippers afterward that

can clearly show the age of the horse.

 

 

CHEST FOUNDER.

 

I believe this disease to be nothing more than the rheumatism, produced

by suffering the horse to remain too long tied up and exposed to the

cold, or riding him against a very bleak wind.

 

 

SYMPTOMS.

 

The horse has considerable stiffness in moving, evidently not arising

from the feet; there is a tenderness about the muscles of the breast and

occasional swelling; it is sometimes accompanied with a considerable

degree of fever.

 

 

TREATMENT--REMEDY.

 

Bleeding, physic, and a rowel in the chest, warm stabling and warm

clothing, with occasional doses of antimonial powder, will soon subdue

the complaint.

 

 

INFLAMMATION.

 

Inflammation consists of an increased flow of the blood to and through

the parts. The proper mode of abating which is to lessen the quantity

of blood--if we take away the fuel, the fire will go out--all other

means are comparatively unimportant contrasted with bleeding. Blood is

generally extracted from the jugular vein, so that the general quantity

may be lessened, but if it can be taken from the neighborhood of the

diseased part, it will be productive of tenfold benefit: one quart

of blood extracted from the foot in acute founder, will do more good

than five quarts taken from the general circulation; an ounce of blood

obtained by scarifying the swollen vessels of the inflamed eye, will give

as much relief to that organ as a copious bleeding from the jugular. This

is a principle in the animal’s nature which should never be lost sight

of; hence the necessity for bleeding early and largely in inflammation of

the lungs, or of the bowels, or of the brain, or of any important organ.

Many horses are lost for want of, or insufficiency in bleeding, but we

never knew of one being materially injured by the most copious extraction

of blood.

 

It is very difficult to decide when a cold or hot application is to be

used, and no general rule can be laid down, except that in cases of

inflammation in the early stages, cold will be preferable, but when the

inflammation is deeper seated or fully established, warm fomentations

will be found most serviceable. Stimulating applications are frequently

used in local inflammation. When the disease is deeply seated, a

stimulating application to the skin will cause some irritation and

inflammation there, and lessen or remove the malady; hence the use of

rowels and blisters in inflammation of the chest. If we excite it in one,

we shall abate it in the other,--and also, by the discharge which we

establish from the one, we shall lessen the determination of the other.

Stimulating and blistering applications should never be applied to a

part that is already inflamed. A fire will not go out by heaping more

fuel upon it; hence the mischief which is often done by rubbing those

abominable oils on a recent sprain, hot and tender. Many a horse has

been ruined by this absurd treatment, when the heat and tenderness have

disappeared by the use of cold lotions or fomentations. When the leg or

sprained part remains enlarged long or matter threatens to be deposited,

it may be right to excite inflammation of the skin by a blister, in order

to rouse the deeper seated absorbants to action and enable them to take

up this deposit; but, except to hasten the natural process and effects

of inflammation, a blister or stimulating application should never be

applied to a part already inflamed.

 

 

INFLAMMATION OF THE LARYNX.

 

He who is desirous of ascertaining whether there is any disease in

the larynx of a horse, should apply his ear to the lower part of

the windpipe. If he finds that the air passes in and out without

interruption, there is no disease of any consequence, either in the

windpipe or the chest, for it would be immediately detected by the

loudness or the interruption of the murmur. Then let him gradually

proceed up the neck with his ear still upon the windpipe; perhaps he soon

begins to recognize a little gurgling sound. He can have no surer proof

that there is the seat of the disease.

 

 

TREATMENT--REMEDY.

 

The treatment here is very plain: Blood must be copiously extracted from

the jugular vein, which must be done quickly, letting it run until the

pulse begins to flutter, then administer the fever medicine:

 

1 drachm digitalis,

1½ “ emetic tartar,

3 “ nitre,

½ ounce aloes,

 

Which must be repeated twice or thrice in the day. Aloes may be safely

given at this stage of the disease, because the chest is not yet

implicated. To this must be added immediately a blister, and a sharp one.

 

 

EPIDEMICS.

 

In epidemics all offensive matter should be immediately and carefully

cleared away, and no small portion of the chloride of lime used in

washing the stables, troughs, &c., and particularly his ulcers, &c.

 

 

CHRONIC COUGH.

 

If a harsh hollow cough is accompanied by a staring coat; it proceeds

from irritability of the air passages, which will be discovered by the

horse coughing after drinking, or when he first goes out of the stable

in the morning, or by occasionally snorting out thick mucus from the

nose, medicine may be given with advantage to diminish the irritation;

generally small doses of digitalis, emetic tartar and nitre administered

at night. Take

 

Digitalis ½ drachm,

Emetic tartar 1 drachm,

Nitre 1 drachm.

 

This should be mixed into a ball with tar and given every night regularly

for a considerable length of time. A blister extending from the root of

one ear to that of the other, taking in the whole of the channel and

reaching six or eight inches down the windpipe has been tried with good

effect. Feeding has much influence on this complaint: too much dry meat,

and especially chaff increases it; carrots afford decided relief.

 

 

THICK OR BROKEN WIND.

 

There is no remedy for the cure of this but it may be improved. The

horse should have full proportions of solid food, but very little hay,

and no chaff; he should not be worked immediately after a heavy meal;

water should be given in moderate quantities, but the horse should not be

suffered to drink as much as he likes until the day’s work is over; green

meat will always be serviceable, and carrots are particularly useful.