DENTAL IRREGULARITIES 11 



No manipulations of any extent should ever be at- 

 tempted in the mouth of the cow without the use of a 

 strong mouth speculum. Those not acquainted with 

 the contractile power of the masseters of the cow 

 should not chance experience to make this acquaint- 

 ance. The power of the masseters in the cow is tre- 

 mendous; aided by the scissor-like movements, of 

 which the mandible is capable in this animal, it makes 

 manipulations in the cavity without the use of a good 

 mouth speculum far from a safe procedure. A per- 

 fectly trustworthy speculum can be made from an or- 

 dinary plow clevis, w^hen no other speculum is at 

 hand. We have used a plow clevis for this purpose 

 a number of times and with satisfaction. Care must 

 be observed to keep it in an upright position, in case 

 the cow moves the head suddenly. 



Stomatitis From Mis-Cut Ensilage 



Ensilage improperly cut in length is frequently the 

 cause of a considerable degree of stomatitis and ulcer- 

 ations of the buccal mucosa. 



The condition makes itself known by profuse sali- 

 vation, smacking of the lips, and refusal of feed. All 

 the symptoms point to a purely local trouble in the 

 mouth. Several cattle are usually affected simultane- 

 ously. Examination will show the mucous membrane 

 of the mouth quite generally inflamed, with numbers 

 of spots in various stages of ulceration. 



We recall an instance during the recent epizootic of 

 foot-and-mouth disease in which a city veterinarian 

 diagnosed this condition, caused by mis-cut ensilage, 

 foot-and-mouth disease. A small-town country prac- 

 titioner promptly set him right and handled the cases 

 to the satisfaction of all concerned by withdrawing 

 the ensilage from the daily ration. 



