CARE OF THE TEETH 83 



much filing should be done as may be necessary to 

 shorten the teeth in the upper or lower jaw, as the case 

 may be, so that they will properly meet the teeth in 

 the other jaw. 



Horses frequently suffer, moreover, from decayed 

 teeth or from a diseased jaw, and from abscesses in 

 the jaw, mouth, or head. Many a case of bolting, shy- 

 ing, or balking is really due to bad teeth, and even 

 horsemen of great experience are often deceived in such 

 cases. Dr. J. Gordon McPherson relates an interesting 

 experience of his own : 



I shall never forget the first time I harnessed this horse. 

 I really did not know which would be killed, the horse or 

 myself. Had it not been that during the fracas she showed 

 me a wonderful burst of action and speed, I think I should 

 have let her go. I made up my mind that there must be a 

 cause, and after carefully studying the mare's actions for 

 some days, I concluded that the whole trouble was in her 

 mouth. 



On examination of her teeth and the interdental space on both 

 sides of the lower maxillary, I found a diseased portion of the 

 bone extending from the first molar for about one and a half 

 inches. I also found several decayed teeth. I removed the 

 diseased part of the bone, and then cleaned all the cavities in 

 the decayed teeth, and filled them with the amalgam ordinarily 

 used for this purpose. I then left the mare standing in the 

 stable for about ten days, and during this time I noted a wonder- 

 ful change in her disposition, and also that she put on flesh 

 rapidly. I then hitched her up and drove her through the 

 crowded streets of Toronto with perfect safety, and she is now 

 the kindest and most trustworthy beast that ever was har- 

 nessed. 



