CARIES OF THE TEETH. 



511 



tion may extend into the mouth, the pus discharging itself 

 there, leaving an unhealthy sinus. 



The special symptoms of caries of the teeth may be summed 

 up, according to M. Bouley, in the following order : — 



Is^. Eemarkable foetor, which is peculiar to the disease, and 

 pervading the mouth and the secretions within it. 



2d. Flow of saliva from the moutli. 



ocl. Appearance of a black spot on the carious tooth, or of 

 a cavity varying in extent, according to the duration of the 

 disease. 



4:th. Sharp pain, indicated when a tooth is struck by any 

 instrument. 



5th. Swelling of the gums, redness, and pain around the 

 diseased tooth. 



^th. The accumulation of food about the diseased tooth, and 

 which, undergoing putrefaction, produces the most repulsive 

 smell. 



By a careful examination of the mouth, the diseased tooth 

 can be detected by the foetor, and by an accumulation of 

 decomposing food around it, and by an alteration in its general 

 appearance. The " speculum oris," of which a woodcut is here 



Fig. 1D9. 



inserted, is a very useful instrument for examining the mouth 

 of the horse. 



The treatment for diseased tooth is its removal, and this is 

 best effected by trephining the alveolus and punching the tooth 

 out. 



All the molars, except the last, may be thus removed. There 

 may be some difficulty with the fifth, but the last is so far 

 separated from the outer wall of the maxillary sinus, with its 

 fang extending obliquely upwards and backwards towards the 



