166 



DISEASES OP 



lower molars, as seen in Fig. 56. The cause of this 

 seems to be that with our present method of feeding-, 

 where the horse often gets through a meal in a half an 

 hour or less time, there is not sufficient wear of the 

 teeth to keep them level. A question frequently put to 



Fig. 56. Teeth showing overhanging upper molars. 



me by employers is " What does the wild horse in a 

 state of nature do about getting his teeth filed ? " The 

 answer to the question is that, as the wild horse is 

 about all the time grinding food that he has to search 

 for so diligently, the teeth are worn sufficiently fast to 

 keep them level. By looking at the above picture we 

 can easily see that the effect of these overhanging 

 edges is to cut the cheek while feeding, or more fre- 

 quently perhaps when the bit is placed in the mouth 

 and held by the reins ; the cheek is now puckered up 



