DERANGEMENTS OF THE TEETH. 



303 



A carious tooth should he extracted forthwith ; 

 lateral irregularities of growth should at once he 

 removed with a rasp which is made for the purpose, 

 similar to the one figured in the annexed engraving 

 (Fig. 21). In using the tooth-rasp, a firm but light 

 hand, together with care, are necessary, otherwise the 

 animal will be very turbulent. 





Easping the Teeth. — The operation of rasping 

 the teeth is to be performed as follows : — Put a 

 halter upon the head ; tie a knot at the noose, 

 allowing plenty of room around the jaws ; then turn 

 the animal to be operated upon the reverse way in 

 the stall. Place a steady assistant at the right side, 

 who is gently to open the mouth of the horse and 

 draw the tongue to the right side, and there firmly 

 hold it down to the jaw, until the molar teeth of the 

 left side of the mouth are operated upon. The ope- 

 rator first introduces the tooth-rasp gently into the 

 mouth, placing the hollow grooA^e of the same firmly 

 upon the outer edge of the molar teeth of the upper 

 jaw, and, while retaining it there, working the instru- 

 ment at the same time backward and forwards, until 

 all the protruding points of the teeth are completely 

 removed. The rasp is then placed in a like position 

 upon the lower molar teeth, but upon their inner 

 border, and the projecting points removed from them 

 also. The assistant is then to chanire sides, and 

 secure the tongue firmly down to the left side of the 

 mouth, while the operator introduces his rasp as 

 before, and operates as already directed — first upon 

 the upper molar teeth, and upon their outer edge, and 



ii 



