VETERINARY QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 51

VETERINARY QUERIES.

[Answered by a duly qualified Veterinary Surgeon. Queries must be received bj MONDAY night te ensure-veri'v ii the succeeding issue.] Horse Dealer asks:—(l) Is it possible to • tell the age of a horse by the number of wrinkles on the upper' corner of the lower eyelid. (2) Also, how long is it possible for a cow to go past her time at calving? Mr A. Hamilton, veterinary surgeon, replies:—(1) Some pretend to be able to tell a horse's age by different methods, but when put to the test generally fail. The most reliable one is the appearance of the teeth, and even then great mistakes may sometimes be made by the best of judges. (2) The usual period of gestation in the cow is nine months. However, she may extend it four or five days beyond that time, but very rarely beyond a fortnight. If she does it is generally due to a second GEstruation which has been overlooked. Inquirer.—When a horse is observed to hang out his tongue when at work have his 'mouth examined, and see if there is any sore or tumour, inflammation of the gums, or iiTOffularity of the teeth or sharp edges. If so. have them removed or dressed. Sometimes it, may proceed from a habit or from the bit chafing it. Remove the cause and the effects will cease. SunscKißEß (Cromwell).— By all means leave swelling on your foal's navel alone. Allow' Nature to do her own work. In course of time it, will likely have disappeared altogether without any external treatment.