VB TERINART DENTAL S URGER T. 69 



a sense of burning. Internally, the roots of the teeth 

 from shooting downwards compress the dental 

 nerves, and painfully drag the periosteal linings of 

 the alveolar cavities. These combined causes will 

 sufficiently account for the local irritation and suf- 

 fering accompanying teething, and enable us to ex- 

 plain many morbid phenomena we find appearing in 

 horses about this time from various circumstances, 

 the most critical period of their lives." 



Horses from four to five years old are more sub- 

 ject to this species of dental irritation than those 

 younger, and it is well known among horsemen that 

 they will stand more fatigue at a younger age than 

 they will at this. It is a common expression that "I 

 had rather work a three than a four year old horse; 

 they will stand more." 



If the temporary teeth seem to hinder the erup- 

 tion of their successors, they are to be removed. 

 Care, however, should be exercised in removing tem- 

 porary teeth. It should be evident, beyond doubt, 

 that they are causing trouble and are retarding the 

 growth of the permanent teeth that succeed them. 

 It is said that the temporary tooth, in becoming ab- 

 sorbed, furnished cement for the permanent teeth. 

 Clarke says, ("Horses' Teeth," p. 48): 



"It naturally follows that much of the cement 

 surrounding the crowns of the permanent teeth, is 

 derived from them (temporary teeth), thus lessening 



