LAMEAS IN HORSES.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 22, 2 January 1878, Page 3

LAMEAS IN HORSES.

An interesting pajiter on the above subject appeared m thp late number of the __j_imal World, and as the editor of Land and Water observes, it is to be hoped that the article will have the effect of bpening the eyes of grooms and horse owners respecting the common practice of burning out the lampas from a horse's mouth. Mr George Fleming, a veterinary surgeon is the author of /the article, and h^ust_y^i«npunces7the operation as areirnlant ofTffi^ old superstitious i ahcies -with v^liich the books of farriery were formerly filled. Whenever a horse's appetite appears to fail or his digestion become disordered, or his teeth_ refuse to properly masticate his food, most persons connected with the stable still consider him suffering from " lampas;" and that until the impediment be removed by burning or some other equally cruel process, the horse i will refuse his food and all functions necessarily become disa-

bled. The " lampas " is supposed to be located m the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth, and to consist of an inflamatibn of that part. But m the act of mastication that part of the roof of the mouth lias no shgre whatever,, the grinding of the teeth being performed further back. The process of burning is far more likely to injure than to cure, for thereby tbe" palate, which forms a most important purpose m mastication, must, become injured. It is defended by a thicker mem-, brane than other parts of the mouth, so as not to render it susceptible to the hardness and sharpness of some of the plants" consumed. . Then, again, m order that the horse may retain tlie food m its mouth while masticating transverse ridges' are developed across what is supposed to be the seat of the " lampas." After the burning process these protective membranes are destroyed, and •m their place we have a large raw surface, which must necessarily give great pain whenever any food presses upon it. Young horses, certainly, when growing their permanent incisor teeth, have the palate adjoining them vascular and tumefied; but a hot iron is evidently not a cure for this. If, when a healthy horse refuses to eat, the owner instead of immediately pronouncing it as suffering "lampas," would examine its molar teeth, he would discover them so irregular aud jagged as to wound both cheek and tongue whenever mastication is attempted. A few minutes' application of the tooth rasp will remedy this evil. If, on the other hand, indigestion is the cause, food must be given to suit the stomach. In any case, Mr Fleming affirms that burning is utterly useless,;and fearfully cruel and he closes his excellent paper by asserting that whoever persists m this operation deserves to have it practised on himself, and. for some days afterwards be compelled to subsist . on ship's biscuit.