38 THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



it takes a considerable time to extend through the substance of the 

 crown and attack the pulp. 



It will be easily seen that the above theory of the origin of 

 the disease is not applicable in those cases where the disease is 

 confined to the tables of the teeth ; and as yet no adequate 

 explanation of the origin in such cases has been forthcoming. 

 Contrary to what has been said regarding the progress of the disease 

 affecting the interdental surfaces, when the tabular surfaces are 

 attacked the disease extends rapidly. 



Caries of the fang is extremely rare. When this disease exists 

 in the fangs of the upper molars there is generally an indication on 

 the exterior of the facial region. There may be a chronic and offensive 

 discharge from the nostrils. The bones covering the teeth project, 

 and the affection is said to lead to empyema of the facial sinuses. 



In commencing cases of caries the treatment consists in scraping 

 the affected area, very thoroughly disinfecting, and subsequently 

 stopping the cavity which has thus been scraped out. For this 

 purpose dental instruments used in human practice should be 

 employed. In advanced cases the affected teeth should be 

 extracted. 



Removal of Molar Teeth 



As already stated teeth are extracted when they are split, or wlicn 

 their crowns or fangs are diseased. 



It will be gathered from our brief description of the development 

 that, especially in the case of molar teeth, extraction presents much 

 less difficulty in old animals than in young, on account of the tooth 

 being pushed out of the socket nearer and nearer the surface of the 

 gum by the filling up of the alveolus. In fact, in very old animals 

 the teeth have been pushed up so far out of the alveoli, that they 

 stand quite loosely as shells embedded in the gums, and may frequently 

 be removed with the fingers without difficulty. In young animals the 



