A Case of Cleft-Palate in a Foal

A Case of Cleft-Palate in a Foal

74 0 The Veterinary '.1 ournal. lations, seized them with a sharp·pronged retractor, and removed them in slices with a sage knife, scraping away th...

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74 0

The Veterinary

'.1 ournal.

lations, seized them with a sharp·pronged retractor, and removed them in slices with a sage knife, scraping away their bases with a curette. Still the tube (Jones's) could not be inserted, but on dilating the opening by means of a urethral dilator (used in urethrotomy in the horse), it was possible to insert it, tig htly. Ordered the tube not to be taken out again. The horse hunted well during the season (I9IO-II) afterwards , and I have not heard anything about him recently.

A CASE OF CLEFT-PALATE IN A FOAL. By JOHN JAMES RIDLEY, M.R.C. V.S., Beverley. A I\D

FREDERICK HOBDAY, F.R.C.V.S ., K e1Jsingto1!, W.

ALTHOUGH very commonly met with in the dog, the rarity of this condition in the horse tribe makes it worth while to put this case on record . The subject was a thoroughbred filly foal, worth, if normal, at least £500. The stud groom had observed shortly after birth that when the animal was sucking the mare the milk would return down the nostrils. She is now five months old, and the symptoms still persist, both fluid and semi-fluid food returning this way. The patient is not in bad condition, as cod liver oil, Mellins' food, and various other nutriments have been given in addition to the best of food. An examination of the mouth revealed a cleft at the back of the mouth, about I~ in. in length and mainly in the soft palate. Treatment is at the present time impossible owing to the small space in which one can work to ~anipulate sutures, and it is doubtful , even if they could be inserted, whether they could be made to remain for a sufficient length of time to obtain permanent adhesion of the edges.