188 ANIMAL DENTISTRY. 



ity of the lonp^itiulinal ridges of the molars, occurring rilong 

 the buccal border of the superior arcades and the lingual 

 border of the inferior. 



Etiology — Enamel points are not pathological. They 

 are a normal part of the dental mechanism, serving the pur- 

 pose of a rake to maintain fibrous forage between the teeth. 

 Being normal structures their causes are strictly of an in- 

 tended, predisposing character, namely: 



(i) The relative narrowness of the inferior molars. 



(2) The relative narrowness of the lower jaw. 



(3) The ginglymoid character of the temporo-maxil- 



lary articulation, limiting the lateral motion of 

 the jaw. 



(4) The longitudinal ridges, the enamel of which ren- 



ders possible the formation of points. 



(5) The herbivorous characteristic of which three 



substances of unequal densities are in wear. 



(6) The normal wear of the teeth. 



Symptoms — Under strictly natural conditions they are 

 not harmful, but from the artificial influences to which the 

 horse is subjected they frequently wound the buccal sur- 

 faces. The widely accepted impression that they limit mas- 

 tication by obstructing the free lateral swing of the jaw is not 

 founded upon facts. Their sole harmful effect is the wound- 

 ing of the mucous membrane. The wounds are usually lo- 

 cated on the cheek opposite the first and second, and fifth 

 superior molars. The former are caused by the friction 

 of the bit and bridle and the latter by the forcible movements 

 of the masseter muscle. The lesions vary from slight ero- 

 sions of the mucous membrane to large ulcer-like patches 

 one inch in diameter. Other parts of the cheek and the 

 tongue are seldom wounded. They attain the greatest size 

 between the ages of 5 and 8 years. 



Wounds of the cheeks which are being perpetually ag- 



1 



