304 DEEANGEMENTS OF THE TEETH. 



lastly upon the lower ones upon their inner edge, when the 

 operation may be considered complete. A ball -iron, or gag 

 (see Eig. 15, p. 144) will be necessary to enable the operator 

 to ascertain the state of the teeth after being rasped, and also 

 to ascertain if the projecting point of a tooth may have escaped 

 the action of the file. 



Caijtign Required. — In performing the operation, simple 

 as it may appear, a certain amount of practice is necessary ere 

 it can be well and expeditiously executed. Violence to the 

 animal is to be avoided. The operator should perform his duty 

 firmly, lightly, and neatly. In holding the tongue, for example, 

 it is not necessary for the assistant to drag and pull it out of 

 the mouth as a strong labourer would pull at a rope ; all that is 

 necessary is to draw the organ gently to one side, and to press 

 it firmly down to the side of the lower jaw ; the object by so 

 doing being to prevent the efforts of the tongue from displacing 

 the rasp. The operator should also be careful to hold the rasp 

 close upon the teeth at the time he is operating, otherwise the 

 gum may be rasped instead.- Avoid pushing the instrument 

 too violently backwards ; when this is done it strikes against 

 the inside of the cheeks and gums, pain is inflicted, and resist- 

 ance from the horse is excited in consequence. Many veterinary 

 surgeons place a twitch upon the nose of the patient before 

 operating ; it is very rare, however, that I find it necessary, as 

 horses will usually stand quiet, if quietly and gently handled. 

 In all minor operations, the less the animal is restrained, the 

 less resistance, in a general way, will be offered to the inten- 

 tions of the operator. 



Tooth Ache. — Caeies of the Teeth. — Tooth Ache, and 

 Caries of the Teeth, are not very common aff'ections ; and it is 

 only by a careful examination of the mouth that a carious tooth 



