ACCIDENTAL IRREGULARITIES. 



145 



much constitutional trouble ; the interference with the mechani- 

 cal action of the jaws and the soreness produced in them and 

 in the cheeks and tongue render trituration of the food and 

 mixture with saliva incomplete ; the unprepared food is not 

 digested and assimilated properly, causing a defective nutrition ; 

 the animal falls away in flesh, becomes hide-bound, and may have 

 attacks of indigestion. The non-assimilation of the food causes 

 indigestions and atony of the digestive tract and predisposes to 

 intestinal calculi. The molars of all stable-fed animals should 



Fig. 152. 

 Hypertrophy of the upper fourth molar (right) with cavity for elongated corresponding molar. 



be looked to once or twice a year, including those of race-colts 

 which are grain-fed from weaning. The inspection of the molars 

 should constitute a part of examination for soundness. 



ACCIDENTAL IRREGULARITIES. 



Accidents from various causes, injuries, wounds, fractures 

 of the jaw-bone, with or without loss of the teeth, and abnormal 

 growths, may so interfere with mastication on one side of the 

 mouth that they cause an excessive wearing of the teeth on the 

 other side. 



Vicious, nervous, and irritable horses frequently bite at 



10 



