—Tumefactions under the jaws of horses, for want of a more technical or scientific definition, gave rise to the sublime term of knotted jaws; which, however, tends to no distinction, or to any particular description; although tumors may be frequently found there of different kinds, produced by, or arising from, many different causes. Temporary tumefactions of the glands may originate in COLD, and sometimes as suddenly disappear upon a perfect recovery from the cause. Inflammatory tumors form these, as upon the attack of the STRANGLES, or from a foulness and viscidity of the blood; in either of which, relief can only be obtained by speedily promoting suppuration. Glandular tumors sometimes form these, become indurated and stationary, never producing pain or inconvenience during the life of the horse. Others, of a much more critical and dangerous description, make their appearance there also, and are the certain prognostic of FARCY GLANDERS. Some professional knowledge, and judicious discrimination, is absolutely necessary, to distinguish between one and the other in the first instance, the better to regulate (if necessary) the mode of treatment in the next. In all simple tumors arising from cold, local circumstances, or temporary inconvenience, hot fomentation daily, with a sponge or flannel dipt in a decoction of aromatic garden herbs, and afterwards kept in a state of equal temperature with a double flannel and hood, will be found to expedite obliteration, by promoting an early and plentiful discharge from the nostrils. All swellings under the jaws which are painful upon pressure, indicate a tendency to suppuration, which cannot be too soon promoted by such stimulative poultices as may be thought most applicable to the purpose.
IMPOSTHUME
.—An imposthume is that kind of inflammatory enlargement, or swelling, which terminates in a formation of matter, produced by an effort of Nature to relieve herself from some offending morbidity under which she labours. Its progress will be found under the head Abscess, with which it is synonymous, and where the danger of attempting repulsion is fully explained.
IMPERFECTIONS
.—The term, so far as it is applied to horses, implies little more than what is to be seen under the different heads of Blemishes and Defects. A horse may be very found, handsome, and valuable, yet he may have imperfections not arising from, or originating in, blemishes; as well as not amounting to what is meant to be conveyed by the idea of defects. Imperfections may be considered as slight drawbacks upon excellence, which, although they do not very considerably reduce the intrinsic value of the horse, yet he would be much better without them; as warmth or violence of temper, when put into action with any other horse in company; shying or starting, either in meeting or passing a carriage; uneasy and restless in mounting or dismounting; aukwardness in the gait of any particular leg, although it may not impede the velocity of action.
INJECTIONS
.—Many medical solutions and lotions are so called; though the word more properly applies only to such compositions as are prepared solely for the purpose of being conveyed by means of an instrument, called a long-necked syringe, (formed of either ivory or pewter,) into such remote cavities, or sinuses, as may be formed by accident, imposthume, or disease, in any part of the body.
INTERFERE
.—A horse was formerly said to interfere, when one fetlock-joint received an injury in action, by a cut or blow from the foot of the other leg. The term, however, is completely out of use; and a horse subject to this defect is now said to cut. See Cutting.