DISEASES OF THE TEETH 39 



In these cases the alveolar periosteum is destroyed, and a necrotic condi- 

 tion of the tooth causes it to become yellow; this is generally termed false 

 caries of the teeth. Alveolar periostitis commences with the formation 

 of an abscess at the root of the tooth, and the pus formed finds its way to 

 the outside of the gums through the alveolar process. It forms a fluc- 

 tuating swelling on the gums (abscess of the gums) ; the opening gener- 

 ally remains so, and if it is in the superior maxillary open fistulous 

 tracts may form under the eye just below the lower eyelid, and unless 

 carefully examined may be mistaken for a lachrymal fistula. By means 

 of a flexible probe the diagnosis can be made with certainty. 



In all these cases the animals seem to have a more or less severe 

 toothache; they are irritable, eat very slowly and irregularly, drop more 

 or less saliva, refuse to have the mouth examined, and, if the affected 

 tooth is struck with something (a key is the best) , howl and evince great 

 pain, keeping the mouth open for some time afterward. When the mouth 



Fig. 19. — Improvised gag (French). 



is examined, the gums are swollen and painful, and there is a very foetid 

 unpleasant odor from the mouth. 



When there is more or less pus present, the radical treatment is 

 to remove the offending tooth. For this purpose open the mouth by 

 means of the method described on page 12, using the mouth speculum 

 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6), or Fig. 19, which show's a mouth ga^" that is partic- 

 ularly useful where the incisor or canine teeth are to be examined as it 

 can be easily improvised and allows the mouth to be examined and at 

 the same time the animal does not open the mouth and move around the 

 tongue and interfere with the examination and an assistant can hold the 

 head steady and with an ordinary molar-forceps extract the tooth, being 

 careful to avoid breaking the crown. The tooth is seized with the for- 

 ceps as far down on the root as possible; it is first loosened by twisting 

 it several times from side to side and then drawn out with a strong pull. 

 The mouth must be thoroughly cleansed with warm water and the gums 

 pressed firmly together, so as to keep the cavity, if possible, from filling 

 up with a blood clot. This should be done immediately after extraction. 

 In cases of caries of the teeth, the tooth can be filled by first scraping 



