HUNGRY, BUT UNABLE TO EAT. 149 



narrow pharynx, is dropped into the manger in the 

 form of cuds or flattened pellets. The nose is plunged 

 into the feed, over which the animal fumbles and nib- 

 bles, but of which it eats little. 



" The insufficiency of nutrition soon produces a 

 baneful effect on the whole economy. The coat tar- 

 nishes, becoming dry and staring; the least exertion 

 makes the animal sweat ; it is heedless of the whip ; 

 the mucous membranes become discolored ; the pulse 

 weakens, and cold infiltrations sometimes appear in 

 the extremities. To see an animal thus suddenly 

 transformed, one is apt to mistake the true cause and 

 attribute it to the influence of some grave organic dis- 

 turbance. 



" These symptoms are common to the different dis- 

 eases and derangements of the dental apparatus, and 

 are sufficient to lead to a positive diagnosis. The 

 diagnosis, however, can only be precisely determined 

 when the mouth shall have been examined, for by this 

 means we perceive the particular signs of each of the 

 alterations that opposes the function of mastication. 

 The mouth may be kept open by a speculum ons, or 

 even by drawing out the free portion of the tongue, 

 which should be held by the thumb and the third and 

 fourth fingers, the index being placed between the 

 inner side of the upper lip and the gum, at the space 

 between the grinders and the tushes, while the other 

 hand is left free to aid the inspection by taxis. 



" If the derangement be the result of an exuberance 

 of a tooth, vicious inclination or projections of the 

 tables, fractured teeth, swollen sockets, &c., the sight 

 is ordinarily sufficient to detect it, for the teeth are, 

 besides, frequently soiled by the greenish remains of 

 fpocl at the affected part, and often eyen the cheek i$ 



