24 



causing the second teeth to grow in crooked, in which case the first 

 teeth should be removed by the forceps. 



Irregidarities of teeth. — There is quite a fashion of late years, espe- 

 cially in large cities, to have horses' teeth regularly "floated" or 

 "rasped" by "veterinary dentists." In some instances this is very 

 beneficial, while in most cases it is entirel}^ unnecessar3\ From the 

 character of the food, the rubbing or grinding surface of the horse's 

 teeth should be rough. Still we must remember that the upper jaw 

 is somewhat wider than the lower, and that from the fact of the teeth 

 not being i^erf ectly apposed, a sharp ridge is left unworn on the inside 

 of the lower molars and on the outside of the upper, which may exco- 

 riate the tongue or lips to a considerable extent. This condition can 

 readil}^ be felt by the hand, and these sharp ridges when found should 

 be rasped down by a guarded rasp. Anyone can do this without the 

 aid of the veterinarian. In some instances the first or last molar tooth 

 is unnaturally long, owing to the absence of its fellow on the opposite 

 jaw. Should it be the last molar that is thus elongated it will require 

 the aid of the veterinary surgeon, who has the necessary forceps or 

 chisel for cutting it. The front molar maj" be rasped down, if much 

 patience is taken. In decay of the teeth it is quite common to find 

 the tooth corresponding to the decayed one on the opposite jaw very 

 much elongated, sometimes to that extent that the mouth can not be 

 perfectly closed. Such teeth must also be shortened by the bone for- 

 ceps, chisel, bone-saw, or rasp. In all instances where horses "quid" 

 their food, where they are slobbering, or where they evince pain in 

 mastication, shown by holding their head to one side while chewing, 

 the teeth should be carefully examined. If, as is mostly the case, all 

 these symptoms are referable to sharp corners or projections of the 

 teeth, these must be removed by the rasp. If decayed teeth are found, 

 or other serious difficulty detected, an expert should be called. 



Toothache. — This is rare in the horse, and is mostly witnessed where 

 there is decay of a tooth. I have observed it only in the molar teeth. 

 Toothache is to be discovered in the horse by the i^ain expressed by 

 him while feeding or drinking cold water. I have seen horses affected 

 with toothache that would suddenly stop chewing, throw the head to 

 one side, and slightly open the mouth. They behave as though some 

 sharp body had punctured the mouth. If upon examination there is 

 no foreign body found we must then carefully examine each tooth. 

 If this can not be done with the hand in the mouth we can, in most 

 instances, discover the aching tooth bj^ pressing each tooth from with- 

 out. The horse will flinch when the sore tooth is pressed upon. In 

 most cases there is nothing to be done but the extraction of the 

 decayed tooth, and this, of course, is only to be attempted by the 

 veterinarian. 



There is a (leforinitij, known as parrot-mouth, that interferes with 

 prehension, mastication, and, indirectly, with digestion. The upper 



