300 DERANGEMENTS OF THE TEETH. 



or thrive so well as they ought, is for the veterinarian to make 

 a careful examination of the teeth. 



The Symptoms indicative of derangement arising from 

 causes of this nature are — the animal is dull and listless ; and, 

 if out at pasture, he strays from his companions, and stands 

 alone for hours in succession, indifferent to everything around 

 him. The teeth are frequently ground, and sometimes he bites 

 the wood-work of the stall or box in which he may be placed. 

 Sometimes the animal will refuse almost any kind of food but 

 oats or hay ; and sometimes he will eat so little as to compel 

 those in attendance to force him to partake of food. In 

 other cases, again, the symptoms are of so palpable a character 

 as at once to indicate the derangement. Saliva may dribble 

 from the mouth ; and if the jaws be forced apart, a fetid odour 

 may be detected. "When the animal is desirous to feed, he 

 eats slowly, and evidently with caution. As the disturbance 

 progresses, an Abscess may appear in the sub-maxillary space, 

 and the case be treated as one of Strangles. Scores of cases 

 of this kind have been diagnosed for strangles, and treated as 

 such : examination of the mouth, however, will in all proba- 

 bility lead the observer to detect redness of the gums around 

 one or more of the molar teeth ; or one or more of the tempo- 

 rary teeth may be forced into an unnatural position by a 

 permanent tooth growing from beneath. 



Treatment. — In order to thoroughly examine a patient so 

 circumstanced, it will frequently prove necessary to cast the 

 animal, and perhaps the best mode to effect this is by Mr. 

 E.arey's plan ; after which the teeth may be closely inspected, 

 and such as may be loose, or distorted from irregularity of 

 growth, should be removed with instruments for the purpose ; 



