The tongue.

Mules suffer much from injury to the tongue, caused by the bad treatment of those who have charge of them, and also from sore month, produced in the same manner.  The best thing for this is a light decoction of white-oak bark, applied with a sponge to the sore parts.  Charcoal, mixed in water, and applied in the same manner, is good.  Any quantity of this can be used, as it is not dangerous.  If possible, give the animal nourishing gruels, or bran mashes; and, above all, keep the bit out of the mouth until it is perfectly healed.

Poll-evil.

This is a disease the mule more than all other animals is subject to.  This is more particularly so with those brought into the service of the Government unbroken.

It will be very easily seen that the necessary course of training, halter-breaking, &c., will expose them to many of the causes of this disease.  Aside from this, the inhuman treatment of teamsters, and others who have charge of them, frequently produces it in its worst form.  It begins with an ulcer or sore at the junction where the head and neck join; and from its position, more than any other cause, is very difficult to heal.  The first thing to be done, when the swelling appears, is to use hot fomentations.  If these are not at hand, use cold water frequently.  Keep the bridle and halter from the parts.  In case inflammation cannot be abated, and ulceration takes place, the only means to effect a cure, with safety and certainty, is by the use of the seton.  This should be applied only by a hand well skilled in the use of it.  The person should also well understand the anatomy of the parts, as injuries committed with the seton-needle, in those parts, are often more serious and more difficult of cure than the disease caused by the first injury.

Fistula.

This is a disease the mule is more subject to than any other animal in Government use.  And this, on account of his being used as a beast of burden by almost all nations and classes of people, and because he is the worst cared for.  Fistula is the result of a bruise.  Some animals have been known to produce it by rolling on stones and other hard substances.  It generally makes its appearance first in the way of a rise or swelling where the saddle has been allowed to press too hard on the withers, and especially when the animal has high and lean ones.  As the animal becomes reduced in flesh, the withers, as a matter of course, are more exposed and appear higher, on account of the muscle wasting from each side of the back-bone.  This, under the saddle, can be remedied to a great extent, by adding an additional fold to the saddle blanket, or in making the pad of the saddle high enough to keep it from the withers.  In packing with the pack-saddle this is more difficult, as the weight is generally a dead, heavy substance, and as the animal steps low or high, the pack does the same.