DISEASES OF THE TEETH 41 



occur from reflex nervous irritation. This nervous irritation may pro- 

 duce a cramp of the lower jaw that is very similar to the paralysis of the 

 jaw in rabies. 



These cases are best treated by simple sedatives, and if the gums 

 seem to be tough, they should be lanced with an ordinary gum lancet, 

 and thus assist the tooth to come through to the surface. 



Malformations of the Cavity of the Mouth. — Malformations or growths 

 on the buccal membrane are frequently seen in the dog, located about the 



Fig. 21. — Wire ecraseur. 



edge of the gums and on the inner cheek. They are generally classed as 

 epulides. They vary in size from a pin-head to a walnut. They are 

 invariably pedunculated; very rarely they are seen with an extended base, 

 irregular on the surface; they are, as a rule, hard and elastic and deep 

 red in color; they may occur in various characters — fibroma, carcinoma 

 or sarcoma. The author observed a melanotic sarcoma in one case. 

 These epulides grow sometimes to be very large, pushing the teeth to one 

 side, making mastication very difl&cult, and preventing closure of the 

 mouth (see Fig. 20) . 



Fig. 22. — Warts of the mouth. 



These tumors can be removed by ecraseur of wire (Fig. 21) or by 

 cutting them out with a probe-pointed bistoury. The hemorrhage can 

 be checked by the thermo-cautery or by a solution of chloride of iron, but 

 the hemorrhage is generally so slight as not to require any styptic. 

 Loose teeth, or teeth that are firm but interfere with the removal and 

 eradication of the tumor should be extracted. If the tumor is firmly 

 attached to the bone or directly in the bone substance itself, the affected 

 bone should be removed with the knife or bone forceps and scraped with 



