162 THE PATHOLOGY OF /THE TEETH. 



and, if it is practicable, a counter opening by trephin- 

 ing should be made. In some cases in our practice 

 this mode of treatment produced the most satisfactory 

 results. If, however, on account of the circumstances 

 of the case, the actual cautery cannot be used, a strong 

 solution of argeuti nitras, applied with pledgets of tow 

 or lint, may be substituted. 



" Complications of Operations on the Mouth. One of 

 the most ordinary and serious complications of opera- 

 tions on the mouth is the excoriation of the ( bars' by 

 the friction of the speculum oris. The denuded bone 

 often exfoliates, rendering the horse unfit for work for 

 a month or more. The evil may be avoided by envel- 

 oping the transverse bars of the speculum with tow or 

 some other elastic material, and by being expeditious 

 in operating. The hemorrhage, which is never abun- 

 dant enough to be serious, may be checked by pledgets 

 of tow, wet with a solution of either nitric or sulphuric 

 acid. 



"Regimen. The regimen in extreme cases of caries 

 has already been indicated in the account of the case 

 of trephining for caries and exostosis of the root of a 

 grinder. In addition to well-boiled gruel, mixed or 

 unmixed with bran, carrots and similar food will be 

 found beneficial."* 



* As horses with defective, diseased, or worn-out teeth require 

 soft or ground food, a few extracts from the article on " Food " 

 in Prof. Youatt's work entitled " The Horse " (p. 132) and other 

 sources will not be out of place here : " Oatmeal gruel consti- 

 tutes one of the most important articles of diet for the sick 

 horse. Few grooms make good gruel. It is either not boiled 

 long enough, or a sufficient quantity is not used. The propor- 

 tions should be a pound of meal to a gallon of water. It should 

 be constantly stirred till it boils, and for five minutes afterward. 

 Carrots, according to Stewart's ' Stable Economy/ are a good 



