DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



167 



and will be brought with some force against the sharp 

 edges of the teeth. It is no uncommon thing to find 

 horses with large sores on the inside 

 of the cheek that have been caused 

 by these sharp edges of the teeth. 

 To examine a horse's mouth for these 

 sharp edges it is only necessary to 

 hold the tongue with one hand and 

 run the thumb of the other hand back 

 along the outside of the upper teeth, 

 when, if any sharp edges or points 

 are present, they will be immediately 

 felt. Having discovered the sharp 

 edges, it will be necessary to level 

 2, them down with some kind of rasp. 

 * Different kinds are used, but one of the 



JO 



I simplest and most convenient will be 

 found pictured in Fig. 57. This should 

 ^ be rubbed on the edges of the teeth 

 ^ until they have a level feel when 

 examined by the thumb as above 

 described. Care should be taken that 

 the last molars are reached with the 

 file, and that they are made level as 

 well as those placed more toward the 

 front of the mouth. Nearly every 

 horse that is fed in the ordinary way 

 on oats and hay will require to have 

 his teeth dressed about once a year. 



