270 DISEASES OF THE TEETH. 



ostitis with necrosis, improvement will only occur after removal of 

 the necrotic bone. This can readily be effected with dressing forceps, 

 after slightly enlarging the wound in the mucous membrane. After- 

 wards the wound must be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and 

 to prevent food particles entering, it should be stopped with a tuft 

 of iodoform gauze. In caries of the lower jaw, Greiner injects the 

 fistula with concentrated solution of lactic acid, and then introduces 

 tampons soaked in the same fluid. The wound requires cleansing 

 after each meal, and treating as above indicated. In some cases 

 good results follow the use of a pointed cautery. 



(5.) DISEASES OF THE TEETH. 



This section will take cognisance of all pathological conditions 

 of the teeth, and of all irregularities in the conformation of the mouth, 

 which interfere with mastication. Without this wider knowledge 

 abnormalities of the teeth cannot be understood, nor can a reliable 

 diagnosis be made. Diseases of the molars are most important in 

 herbivora, because the molar teeth perform the whole duty of 

 grinding the herbage, while the incisors only cut it. The dental 

 disorders of vegetable feeders will, therefore, first receive attention. 



The clinical appearances, although varying in the different con- 

 ditions, generally show marked agreement. In horses (to which 

 we now more particularly refer), the following symptoms are 

 usually present : — 



(1) Deliberate cautious mastication, subject to sudden inter- 

 ruptions and rolling of the tongue, the head being held on one side. 



(2) Dropping of food from the mouth ; balls of hay are found 

 in the manger; in popular phrase the animal "quids" its food. 



(3) An important symptom is the presence of food in the mouth, 

 generally in the cheek, a considerable time after eating. Grinding 

 the teeth when no food is in the mouth is also significant. 



(4) At a later stage wasting and loss of strength. In cattle 

 epileptiform convulsions have been seen as a result of dental disease. 

 In dogs salivation should always draw attention to the state of the 

 mouth, and particularly of the teeth. 



Alveolar periostitis is the most common dental disease in animals, 

 and always gives the mouth an extremely offensive smell. 



Immediately any such symptoms are present, the mouth, and 

 especially the teeth, should be thoroughly examined. In some horses, 

 irregularities of the teeth can be detected through the thickness of 

 the cheeks by palpation from without. Sometimes the bone swells 



