ANIMAL DENTISTRY. 151 



operations because it brings the head to a comfortable height 

 for inspection and operation. 



Anaesthetics are seldom necessary to perform dental 

 operations and frequently they are harmful in that they 

 favor the aspiration of blood and saliva into the trachea. 

 Local anaesthetics are not applicable in any form to the den- 

 tal operations upon animals. 



Floating, filing, trimming and cutting the teeth should be 

 performed in the standing position. The extraction of teeth 

 may require the recumbent, but only occasionally. Tre- 

 phining the skull can be performed in the standing posture 

 with the aid of the twitch and dental halter, but the repul- 

 sion of teeth must never be attempted without recumbent 

 restraint. 



Chiseling, punching and sawing operations require per- 

 fect restraint in the recumbent position. 



