144 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



the centre are called the central ; the next two, one on either side of 

 these, the internal lateral ; and the next two, the external lateral ; 

 and the last two, the corner teeth. There are twenty-four molars, of 

 which twelve appear as temporary and twelve as permanent teeth. 

 They are not so regular in their appearance as in the horse, varying 

 according to gestation. The central and internal lateral, if not up at 

 birth, will be up in a month, but they vary much from the breed and 

 care of the animal. You can form a more reliable opinion of the age 

 of cattle by the teeth than by the horns. A well-bred short-horn will 

 occasionally have a full mouth at three years old. The central per- 

 manent incisors appear at two years, the internal lateral at two and 

 a half, the external lateral at three, the corner at three and a half. 

 The first three molars appear as temporary teeth at birth, or in a 

 month after ; the permanent molar in six or eight months — up and in 

 wear at one year ; the second permanent, the fifth tooth in the jaw, 

 at fifteen or sixteen months — up and in wear at two years. At two 

 or two and a half years the first and second temporary molars are 

 replaced by permanent ones. A little later the other molars appear, 

 and the animal has a full mouth at three and a half years. A sheep 

 has the same number of teeth as the ox, and they are replaced much 

 the same way, but generally a little earlier. 



Unnatural Conditions, Irritation, Etc., of the Teeth.— Dentition 



begins at or soon after birth, and continues until the horse is five 

 years old, and the animal suffers more or less during that time. The 

 lower animals do not appear to suffer so much in getting their first 

 teeth, but do suffer when getting their permanent ones, even more, 

 perhaps, than the human being. Hence, we have dentition fever in 

 the horse from three or four up to five years old — there is a weak 

 pulse, impaired appetite, a staring coat, the bowels sometimes costive, 

 and sometimes there is diarrhoea ; he is not able to work, and it is 

 hard to say what is the matter, unless the system is affected by the 

 irritation set up by the teeth, for all the organs appear to be in a 

 healthy state. Such symptoms indicate that the temporary teeth are 

 not being displaced in a proper way. The same applies to cattle. 

 The food passes improperly digested, which may be entirely due to 

 the state of the teeth. It is well in such cases to examine the mouth, 

 and if you find some tooth not properly displaced, the gums swollen, 

 remove it — which you can sometimes do with the thumb and finger, 

 or you may have to use the forceps. Then give a mild laxative, feed 

 on soft food and the animal will soon recover. 



Lampas is very common. It is not certain whether it should be 

 called a disease or not, but it is called a disease, and no doubt there 

 is a change going on in the surrounding parts as well as in the teeth, 

 sometimes involving the submucous tissues, and from the swollen 

 condition of the gums it may interfere with mastication. The gum 

 may be even with or even extend over the teeth. Scarify such cases 

 with the lancet, making two or three incisions, but do not make any 

 incisions behind the third bar, or you will injure the palatine artery 

 and cause profuse hemorrhage, but cut to either side or before the 

 third bar, then feed upon soft food. Sometimes astringents are use- 

 ful, alum and water being very good, two or three drachms of alum 

 to a pint of water. The brutal practice of using a hot iron, was, and 

 is still sometimes, used, and I wish you to set yourselves entirely 

 against such treatment ; it is entirely uncalled for. There is no great 

 harm in scarifving, and it is sometimes highly necessary, but you 



