68 



excitsment and the animal be thrown into a ^dolent spasm and 

 die in a short time. 



Give the patient green fodder, slop, mealy drinks, hqnid food, 

 and cold water as oftsn as he may show a desire to eat or drink. 



Medicinal agents are of secondary importance in the treatment 

 of lockjaw. Large doses {2 to 8 ounces) of bromids of potassium 

 should be given in the drinking water several times daily. The 

 administration of medicines by the mouth is not practicable by 

 reason of the lockjaw as well as through causing excitement. 



The infected wound requires special care. It should be well 

 opened up, disinfected, foreign bodies extracted, etc. 



Some authors recommend the use of the suspending sling. 



In the horse the mortality from this disease is from 80 to 85 per 

 cent of cases. 



DISEASES OF THE TEETH. 



On account of the character of its food the horse has been sup- 

 plied with molar teeth, having the grinding surfaces roughened; 

 it must be remembered that the lower jaw is narrower than the 

 upper jaw, and the table (grinding) surfaces are sloping. The 

 distance from the gum to the grinding surface is the greatest on 

 the outside surface of the upper molars and the reverse is the 

 case in the lower molars. 



On account of this conformation a sharp ridge (or points) is 

 liable to develop on the outsia3 of the uppsr molars and may be 

 found on the inside of the lower ones. These points are some- 

 times very sharp, and may lacerate the cheeks and tongue during 

 mastication. A horse so affected will frequently bolt his food 

 bafore thoroughly masticating it, thereby causing chronic indi- 

 gestion. It may also interfere with the reining of the animal 

 and cause great annoyance to his rider. 



Such irregularities can be easily detected by an examination 

 of the animal's mouth by the hand, and when found, these sharp 

 edges must be removed by the use of a float. 



Decayed teeth. 



All teeth are apt to decay, such decay being generally due to 

 an injury. 



A decayed tooth will be found in one of the following condi- 

 tions: Split, broken, or shorter than the surrounding ones, and 



