VB TERINAR T DENTAL S URGER f. 167 



remove all the tartar, finishing up with the brush. 

 The importance of this will become evident after 

 reading the chapter on Salivary Calculi (tartar). 



Exercise good judgment in the use of the tooth 

 shears, lest fracture of the teeth take place. There 

 is but little danger of fracture in good sound teeth ; 

 but where the teeth are very brittle, as they are in 

 some animals, fracture may readily occur. 

 PARROT MOUTH. 



Parrot mouth is a deformity which is frequently 

 noticed and consists in the upper incisor teeth pro- 

 jecting in front and overhanging the lower incisors. 

 The incisor teeth do not come into wear and as a 

 result they gradually increase in length beyond the 

 gums. In some cases the lower incisors come in 

 contact with the bars in the roof of the mouth lacer- 

 ating them and eventually producing serious results. 

 The animal will fall away in flesh presenting an 

 emaciated appearance and may eventually die of 

 starvation, even in the midst of plenty. 



A horse with a parrot mouth will feed well enough 

 from the manger; but if turned out to pasture, ex- 

 periences much difficulty in collecting the food. 



If the lower incisors wound the roof of the 

 mouth they may be dressed down with the incisor 

 cutters and the rasp. If the upper incisors wound 

 the lower lip they should be operated upon in the 

 same manner. 



