SYMPTOMS. 93 



DISEASE OF THE MEMBRANE LINING THE TOOTH SOCKET. 

 In this case the horse could not masticate, the teeth be- 

 came loose, and the jaws swollen. From the easy withdrawal 

 of one or two molars, and the absence of any tendency to 

 restoration, the animal was destroyed. The only lesion which 

 could be observed was inflammation of the membranous lining 

 of the tooth sockets. The cause of this singular condition 

 was unknown. 



SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES OF THE TEETH. Frequently the 

 teeth are not looked at until horses are perfectly emaciated, 

 or after fruitless efforts to relieve in cases of oppressed 

 breathing from supposed nasal tumours. Imperfect masti- 

 cation and rejection of partially chewed food from the mouth 

 first indicate some source of pain or imperfect action of the 

 teeth. Corn is greedily swallowed, but without being crushed 

 by the molars, and is therefore seen whole in the excrement. 

 The system soon suffers, and the animals, hide-bound and 

 languid, are readily attacked with disease, especially from 

 colic, due to the undigested food which distends the large 

 intestine. 



When symptoms such as the foregoing are witnessed, ex- 

 amining the mouth by holding the tongue, or using a balling- 

 iron like either represented by Figs. 47, 48, may enable us 

 to determine with precision the nature of the disease. 



Fig 47. 



