162 THE PATHOLOGY OF THE TEETH. 



and, if it is practicable, a counter opening l)y trephin- 

 ing sliould be made. In some cases m our practice 

 this mode of treatment produced the most satisfactory 

 results. If, however, on account of the circumstances 

 of the ease, the actual cautery cannot be used, a strong 

 solution of argeuti nitras, applied with pledgets of tow 

 or lint, may be substituted. 



" Complications of Operations on tlie Mouth. — One of 

 the most ordinary and serious complications of opera- 

 tions on the mouth is the excoriation of the 'bars' by 

 the friction of the speculum oris. The denuded bone 

 often exfoliates, rendering the horse unht for work for 

 a month or more. The evil may be avoided by envel- 

 oping the transverse bars of the speculum with tow or 

 some other elastic material, and by being expeditious 

 in operating. The hemorrhage, which is never abun- 

 dant enough to be serious, may be checked by pledgets 

 of tow, wet with a solution of either nitric or sulphuric 

 acid. 



'' Regimen. — The regimen in extreme cases of caries 

 has already been indicated in the account of the case 

 of trephining for caries and exostosis of the root of a 

 grinder. In addition to well-boiled gruel, mixed or 

 unmixed with bran, carrots and similar food will be 

 found beneficial."* 



* As horses with defective, diseased, or worn-out teeth require 

 sof^, or orround food, a few extracts from tlie article on "Food" 

 in Praf. Youatt's work entitled "The Horse" (p. 133) and other 

 sources will not be out of place here : " Oatmeal gruel consti- 

 tutes one of the most important articles of diet for the sick 

 horse. Few c:rooms make good gniel. It is either not boiled 

 long enongh. or a sufficient quantity is not used. The propor- 

 tions should be a pound of meal to a gallon of water. It should 

 be constantly stirred till it boils, and for five minutes afterward. 

 Carrots, according to Stewart's ' Stable Economy,' are a good 



