534 CHAPTER 71. 



pierced by the upcoming teeth, and the teeth themselves are not at 

 this period fully adapted to the mastication of hard food. 



But for the purpose of training it is necessary to force on the muscular 

 development of the young race-horse. Hence he is, and practically must 

 be, kept mainly on corn. The tender mouth and teeth are called upon 

 to prepare this hard food for digestion, and constant irritation of the 

 gums and teeth is the result, and this irritation and pressure is of course 

 aggravated by the snaffle ; hence the young animal often becomes frac- 

 tious in his gallops. 



Reports of horses in training frequently note that such and such a 

 colt has taken to pulling, or is no longer a boy's horse, or has displayed 

 unusual temper at the post. 



1 These signs should be an unerring guide to what is occurring in the 

 mouth. 



No branch of veterinary surgery demands closer attention than this, 

 and trainers, experts as they undoubtedly are in the management and 

 care of growing horses under the critical conditions of early life, will de- 

 rive the greatest assistance by frequent consultations with their veterinary 

 advisers. 



At the present day the great majority of dental specialists are un- 

 qualified practitioners, unacquainted with the usual phenomena atten- 

 dant on disease affecting parts other than the teeth. They are no doubt 

 extremely skilful in manipulation of the teeth, but too often treat the 

 symptoms they see, and not the causes which produce those symptoms. 

 As a matter of fact dental disorders are usually concurrent with affec- 

 tions of the mucous linings and intestines, and therefore the assistance 

 of a Veterinary surgeon is necessary. 



Irregularities in early dentition, short of deformity and other than 

 those caused by clumsy dentistry, are simple and generally easily re- 

 moved by skilled aid with slight incisions and gentle extraction. Nature 

 if given a fair chance, and unimpeded in the horse by syphilis or other 

 hereditary disease, produces a regular set of teeth. See Dentition for 

 the earlier ages, par. 868, also Plates 39, 40, and 41. 



1066. Of the Molars or Grinders. 



As age progresses, after the completion of dentition no less than 

 during the development of the teeth, the attendance of the veterinary 

 surgeon is necessitated by irregularities produced in the teeth by wear 

 or disease, which frequently seriously hinder mastication and produce 

 indigestion and loss of condition. Frequent instances are on record of 

 horses sold as useless, the result of irregular or diseased teeth, com- 

 pletely recovering their condition and original value on mechanical 

 removal of the cause by surgical operation. It should never be forgotten 

 that where dental irregularity interferes with mastication the horse may 

 be ravenously hungry, loses condition, and therefore after relief . has 

 been given by dentistry, great care must be taken to prevent his over- 

 gorging himself with food, which may result in rupture of the stomach. 



