226 Veterinary Elements. 



the attempt to treat the condition by the owner or groom 

 will be unsatisfactory, being cruel and worrying to the 

 horse, even to the extent of spoiling his mouth for life. 

 Everyone knows that the efforts of the expert human 

 dentist are directed to preserve the teeth, not to insert 

 false ones, even more important is this effort in the horse r 

 false teeth in him not being practicable; a horse's useful- 

 ness, and therefore his life, depends as much on his 

 teeth, or more so, than on any organ of the body, and 

 while horse buyers only examine the front teeth to deter- 

 mine the age, the well-posted person will want to know 

 the condition of the grinders, and whether any are ab- 

 sent or diseased. The yearly examination of the horse's 

 mouth by the veterinarian is one of the most profitable 

 investments that can be made by a stockman, as feed, 

 flesh, and the resulting power to do the work will be 

 saved. The period of teething, it will be remembered 

 (see page 40) extends almost from birth until the horse 

 is five years old, consequently the colt is just as liable to 

 have tooth troubles as is an old horse; the milk (tempo- 

 rary) molars, or crowns as they are termed, are often: 

 retained instead of being shed at the proper time, espe- 

 cially during the age of two to four years, the symptoms 

 already mentioned are present and the lining of the 

 mouth may show a sore surface, the gums even bleeding,, 

 as oftentimes a crown becomes partially loose and its 

 sharp and jagged edge will be pressed upon the gums 

 during attempts to feed; the treatment is removal of 

 those crowns, the smoothing of any sharp edges, soft 

 feed, and in a f<gw weeks the improvement is almost be- 

 yon4 belief, 



