516 DISEASES AND INJURIES OF THE FACIAL rvEGlOy^ 



height of its activity. When the animal is three years old,eight^ 

 permanent molars are being cut, and four permanent incisors are 

 in f.ctive growth within the gums. At four years of age the 

 same number of molars are cut, and the same number of incisors' 

 are at a more advanced stage of growth within the gums, in 

 addition to the canine teeth, which make their appearance about 

 this time, Ko wonder, then, that the eruption of so many teeth, 

 is a source of irritation and fever. 



The best treatment is to throw the animal off work, turn him 

 to grass if the weather permits, or into a loose box in a well- 

 vantilated spot, and give him rest until the process of dentition 

 is completed. If the gums are red and swollen, lancing them 

 vriR prove a source of great relief. This operation is easily 

 performed in the anterior portion of the mouth, but is rather 

 difficult at the posterior part ; however, it may be done ■with a 

 proper instrument, the gum-lancet of the dentist on an extended 

 scale being the most suitable. If the temporary teeth seem to 

 liinder the eruption of their successors they are to be removed. 



SFPERNUMEIIARY TEETH. 



Small supernumerary teeth are often met with in the front of 

 the molars called " wolf's teeth," They have been supposed to 

 be a cause of ophthalmia, but tliis can scarcely be. They can 

 produce no inconvenience ; but if requested to extract them the 

 practitioner can hardly refuse. The best method is to remove 

 them with the tooth-forceps. 



The question as to the influence of the teeth upon diseases of 

 the eye might perhaps be deemed worthy of discussion, inasmuch 

 as the dental nerve is a branch of the same nerve as that 

 ■.upplying the eyes with common sensibility, namely, the fiftlu 

 The older writers maintain that moon-blindness was due to the 

 wolfs tooth, and the first procedure in the treatment was its 

 removal 



Now-a-days, however, the supposition is not carried quite so 

 fp", and tlie utmost that can be said is that the irritation of toeth- 

 inj may be an exciting cause of oplithalmia in animals vifhose 

 constitutions are hereditarily or otherwise predisposed to the 

 disease ; and the removal of supernumerary teeth, lancing the 

 gums, or the" withdrawal of offending teeth, may very possibly bo 

 followed by some remission of the ophthalmic symptoms. 



