DISEASES OF CATTLE 75 



After this age the characters are only vague and approximative. 



Irregularities of the Teeth. Irregularities of the teeth may be 

 occasioned by the unequal wearing of some of the teeth or by some 

 of the incisors being broken, which may happen when cattle are pas- 

 tured on sandy or gravelly soil. The molar teeth may also show 

 irregular wear from similar causes, or from a disease or malformation 

 of the jaw. Their edges may become sharp, or it may happen that a 

 molar tooth has been accidentally fractured. It may also occur that a 

 supernumerary tooth has developed in an unusual position, and that 

 it interferes with the natural and regular mastication of the food. 



Treatment. The mouth may be examined by grasping the ani- 

 mal's tongue with one hand and partially withdrawing it from the 

 mouth, so as to expose the incisor and molar teeth to inspection. 

 When it is desired, however, to examine the molar teeth with the fin- 

 gers, so as to obtain a more precise idea of their condition, and instru- 

 ment like the balling iron which is used for the horse should be in- 

 troduced into the mouth, so as to separate the jaws and keep them 

 apart while the examination is being made. Any sharp edges of the 

 molars must be removed by the tooth rasp, such as is used for horses. 

 Any supernumerary tooth which interferes with mastication or any 

 tooth which is fractured or loose should be extracted. In perform- 

 ing such operations it is desirable to throw, or cast, the animal, and to 

 have its head held securely, so as to enable the operator to do what 

 is necessary without difficulty. 



Decay of the Teeth, Caries. The presence of caries may be sus- 

 pected if the mouth exhales a bad odor and if the animal occasionally 

 stops during mastication as if it were in pain. The existence of caries 

 in a molar tooth may be ascertained by examining the mouth in the 

 manner already described. If one of the molars is found to be cari- 

 ous, it should be extracted. When the crown of the tooth has been 

 destroyed and only the stump or root is left, extraction will be im- 

 practicable. In such cases it is best to sell the animal to the butcher 

 unless it have special value, in which case the root stumps may be re- 

 moved by a veterinarian by the operation of trephining. 



SORE MOUTH (MYCOTIC STOM ATITIS) . 



The name stomatitis signifies that there is present in the affected 

 animals an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. 

 This inflammation, which quickly develops into ulcers, is one of the 

 principal and most frequently observed lesions. Mycotic stomatitis 

 refers to that form of stomatitis which results from eating food con- 

 taining irritant fungi. 



Character of the Disease. Mycotic stomatitis is a sporadic, non- 

 infectious disease which affects cattle of all ages that are on pasture, 

 but more especially milch cows. It is characterized by inflammation 

 and ulceration of the mucous membrane of the mouth, producing 

 salivation and inappetence, and secondarily affecting the feet, which 

 become sore and swollen. Superficial erosions of the skin, particu- 

 larly of the muzzle and of the teats and udders of cows, may also be 

 present, with some elevation of temperature and emaciation. 



