INJURIES IN THE REGION OF THE MOUTH. 257 



pain indicated when the tooth is struck witli tlic sounder, and 

 swelling of the gums. The treatment is the removal of the tooth. 

 The animal should he sent to the veterinary snrei;eon to have the 

 teeth drawn. The surgeon only has the necessary instruments, 

 and A'ery frequently the animal must be cast and the trephine 

 used to remove the tooth. 



DISEASES OF THE ALVEOLAR PEOCESSES. 



The alveolar jirocesses are the little depressions in the jaw in 

 which the fangs of the teeth fit. They are diseased principally 

 from the food being allowed to accnmnlate between the teeth. 

 This food after a time decomposes and gives rise to fetid com- 

 pounds, which destroy the parts in contact. The membrane 

 covering the gums and lining the alveolar becomes inflamed, and 

 consequently diseased. 



Symptoms. — Imperfect mastication of food, loss of condition, 

 and fetid breath, due to the decomposed food between the teeth. 



Treatment. — Wash the teeth with a brush and water; the 

 parts afterward should be washed with a solution of the chloride 

 of lime. 



DENTITION FEVER. 



In the lower animal, the cutting of the deciduous teeth is never 

 accompanied with pain or irritation. "When the permanent teeth 

 are making their appearance there is often a considerable amount 

 of irritation. The horse from three to four years old is more sub- 

 ject to dental irritation than when younger. This accounts for 

 the fact that the colt of two years old will stand more fatigue 

 than one at three or four years of age. At this age dentition is 

 at the height of activity. At three, eight permanent incisors are 

 in active growth; at four years of age eight molars are cut, and 

 four incisors in an advanced stage of growth are present. The 

 canine teeth also make their appearance at this age. At four 

 years of age, a cough frequently accompanies the cutting of the 

 third and the sixth molar, or that standing last in the row. The 

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