634 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



this. Occasionally a grinder is not met by its fellow, and it 

 grows to such great length as to interfere with grinding of food, 

 and to penetrate the bars opposite, and cause ulcers. The rem- 

 edy is to saw off the tooth as often as it may demand. A horse 

 with irregular teeth is unsound, and of little value. A carious 

 tooth may produce disease of jaw and other teeth. It should 

 be removed. 



Dentistry is making the life of the horse more comfortable, 

 and also increasing his days of usefulness. The hammer and 

 punch are means of torture, and are superseded by other de- 

 vices for extraction, which are more humane, and do not leave 

 the fangs in the jaw, as the hammer and punch so often do. 



When we reflect on the nature of the changes going on dur- 

 ing the third and fourth years, we may expect to find poor 

 mastication and febrile affections common at that period of life. 

 At that period, especially, should the teeth have care. Youatt 

 says, " The careful observer will frequently trace a fever, cough, 

 catarrhal affections, diseases of the eye, cutaneous affections, 

 diarrhea, dysentery, loss of appetite, and general derangement to 

 irritation from teething." Under all febrile affections of young 

 horses, the teeth should be examined. Mr. Percival, in speak- 

 ing of treatment of gums by incision, etc., says: "In this way 

 I have catarrhal and bronchial inflammations abated, coughs re- 

 lieved, lymphatic and other glandular tumors about the head 

 reduced, cutaneous eruptions got rid of, deranged bowels re- 

 stored to order, appetite returned, and lost condition restored " 



FIG. 17. FRONT VIEW AT HALF YEAR. 



