750 



THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



the projections on the dental tables will penetrate the gum of the oppo- 

 site jaw, and finally the bone, whence an intolerable pain which 

 renders mastication very difficult, and makes it almost impossible for 

 the animal to feed himself. 



Ordinarily, it is the superior molar arcades which present these 

 prominences at the level of their middle portion, more rarely at their 

 extremities ; conversely, the inferior arcades are most often concave in 

 their middle and elevated at their extremities. But great differences 

 may occur in the wearing out of these teeth which cannot be comprised 

 in this general description. 



It may be said, in this connection, that whatever shortening or 

 breaking, partial or total, exists at one point of the molar arcade, 



FIG. 325. Hypertrophy of the fourth right superior molar. The cavity received the correspond- 

 ing prominence on the inferior tooth. 



results in a proportional elongation of the tooth opposite this place. 

 This is especially observed in cases of fracture, extraction, caries, etc., 

 so frequent, even in animals quite young. 



We present (Fig. 325) a very remarkable example of an irregu- 

 larity of this kind. The fourth superior molar shows upon its table a 



