260 



AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



CHAPTER X. 



DISEASES 'OF THE TEETH AND MOUTH. 



The cut represents the palate and the teeth of the upper 

 jaw of the mature horse. It shows the six incisors, or nippers ; 

 the two canine teeth, or titshes — sometimes called bridle-teeth ; 



and the twelve molars, or grind- 

 ers. Upon one side of the roof 

 of the mouth is a natural view 

 of the bars of the palate, and 

 upon the other is indicated the 

 appearance which would be pre- 

 sented if the bars were dissected 

 olt* so as to reveal the intricate 

 net-work of blood-vessels and 

 nerves below. 



Careful observation has con- 

 vinced us that the teeth of the 

 horse are much oftener the 

 source of sufiering and disease 

 than is generally believed. In 

 speaking of this subject, Youatt 

 says: "Horsemen, in general, 

 think too lightly of dentition 

 [teething], and they scarcely 

 dream of the animal suffering 

 to any considerable degree, or 

 absolute illness being produced ; yet he who has to do with 

 young horses will occasionally discover a considerable degree 

 of febrile aflection, which he can refer to this cause alone. 

 Fever, cough, catarrhal affections generally, disease of the 

 eyes, cutaneous affections, diarrhea, dysentery, loss of appe- 



