Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-22
bination will give two exhibitions In
Richmond on Friday. October 4th.
both CRUEL AND UNNECESSARY.
NO Reason Why Lampas should he
Iiurncd-Whaf Auth0riilca shy.

the Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals
against the colored blacksmith, Quaries,
for burning the lampas in horse is
exciting considerable interest. and as
meny persons are DESTROYS OF know
ing what constitute lampas n Dispatch
reporter has taken the trouble TO obtain
from reliable source some Information
Oh this subject.
The blacksmith, for a defence, seems
70 rely on the fact that the practice has
been In vogue here Tor forty years or
more. DIR. Wood is aware that II has
been practiced farther back than the
memory of the oldest inhabitant reaches,
but he can see no reason why II should
be continued. IL the operation Is un-
necessary and cruel. The practice Of
burning lampas Is relic OF the days
when the horse-shoer was the norse-doe-
tor in England, but since the horse-shoer
or farrier has been succeeded so far
as doctoring animals is concerned by
the regularly educated and trained yeteri-
nary surgeon. the practice of burning,
ampas has been stopped in that coJn-
try, and any one who attempted 1t there
would be severely punished
In order to explain what Is meant by
,ampas 1t Is necessary to say that the
bars OF the hard palate are ridges OF
flesh ranging transversely from i'm
TO the soft palate in the back part Of the
mouth. The hard palate consists Of
hbrous tissue In which - an intricate
network OF blood vessels and nerves,
the whole covered by the mucous men,
brane; in fact, this tissue Is identically
the same as that forming the roof OF
the human mouth, and II is into this deli
cate and highly sensitive structure that
red-hot iron Is forced in the operation
called burning the lsmpas.''
EXPLANATION OF THE LAMPAS.
When the bars Immediately behind the
upper front teeth are very prominent
the condition Is called the "lampas.' or
hampers. but 1t may safely be asserted
that ninety-nine horses In hundred
said TO have lampas are entirely free from
any disease OF the bars. These promi-
nent bars are a natural condition in
all young horses, and in many old ones,
and. Of course, being natural, do not re-
quire to be burned out of the horses
mouth.
Occasionally. in young horses that are
tecthine, the eruption of the teeth is
accompanied by congestion. and often in
Illumination Of the gums. the same as is
the case with teething children, and
when such condition exists il is only ne
cessary to scarify or lance the swollen
in no case Is IL any more necessary TO
plunge a red-hot iron into them than It
is Into tho mouth OF a child in the same
condition. Rarely the gums and bars
may be swollen as a result of indges ton,
but IL must be admitted n nonsensical
Idea to expect cure Of Indigestion to
follow the application Of a hot-iron 10 the
inside OF the mouth.
Those persons who believe in burning
lampas say that the projecting or proml-
nent bars prevent the horse from chewing
his food. but to prove the fallacy Of
this idea, 1t is only necessary to remark
that the horse chews his food with his
back teeth, and never with his front
teeth.
To sum up. II may be said that lampas
is more of a disease Of the Imagination
Of certain people than II is Of the horses
mouth, and, like hollow horn wolf
In the tall" and many other imaginary
conditions It cannot stand scientific in
yestigstlon in these days.
WHAT AUTHORITIES SAY.
The Dispatches informant has examined
every standard veterinary work he could
lay his hands on, and could not find one
that does not severely condemn the prac-
tice OF burning the lampas.
The following are the opinions Of some
or the authors consulted:
Professor Williams. in his principles
and Practice of Veterinary Surgery"
says: Lamps. barbs, pops, etc, are
terms applied by the ignorant TO fancied
diseases; the first of the prominent pala-
tive bars of the young horse; the lat
ter to the swollen papillae of the tongue
and cheeks. The lampas is supposed to
interfere with the masticatory powers of
the animals, and the veterinary surgeon
is frequently requested to burn or other
wise remove 1t; and. if he declines. some
barbarous fellow undertakes the task"
Sir F. Fftzwygram. baronet. a dis
tinguished English general and veteri-
MARIAN in his popular work-"Horses and
Stables"-in regard to lampas, says: -
brutal practice was In fashion some years
ago of burning the palate with hot
iron"
"Youatt on the Horse" an old-time
veterinary authority, says: 1.-THE brutal
custom OF the farrier, who sears and
burns down the bars with a red-hot
iron, is most Objectionable. 1t Is tor
turing the horse to no purpose. and.
rendering that part callous. on the deli
cate sensibility OF which all the pleasure
and safety OF riding and driving depend"
Mayhem. another old-tlme veterinary
authority. in his illustrated Horse-Doc-
scribe the mode of firing for lampas.
1t is sufficient here TO inform the
reader that the operation consists in
burning away the groom's imaginary
prominences upon the palate. The Nv
ing and feeling substance within
sensitive and timid animals mouth is
actually consumed by fire. He. how
ever, who plays with such tools as redA
hot irons, cannot say. Thus far shalt
thou GO He loses all command when
the fearful instrument touches the living
flesh; the palate has been burned
away. and the admirable service per-
formed by the bars-that of retaining food
during masticatlon-destr oyed. The bone
beneath the palate has been injured;
much time and much money have be
wasted to remedy the consequence of
a needless barbarity. and after all, the
horse has been left confirmed 'wheezer.'
The animals sense being confused,
and its brain agitated by the agony,
the lower jaw has closed spasmodically
upon the red-hot iron: and the teeth
have seized with the tenacity Of mad
ness upon the heated metal"
Professor c. Il. Kitchener. in the United
States Government work on the horse.
says: Burning the lampas is cruel and
unnecessary, and should never be per-
mitted, as II often causes serious results
to follow"
Since DR.. Wood has been president OF
the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
TO Animals he has tried by persuasion to
stop the practice Of burning lampas he
has endeavored TO create proper senti-
ment against IL, but he is now convinced
that mild methods Will not succeed, and.
therefore, concluded TO make test case.