THE TONGUE. 131 



the irregular growth of the teeth, become rough, and wound the 

 inside of the cheek ; it is then necessary to adopt a summary, but 

 effectual method of cure ; namely, to rasp them smooth. Many 

 bad ulcers have been produced in the mouth by neglect of this. 



The teeth sometimes grow irregularly in length — particularly 

 the grinders — from not meeting the proper opposition of the cor- 

 responding tooth in the other jaw. These sometimes penetrate 

 the bars, causing ulceration ; and at others, interfere partially oi 

 entirely with the grinding motion of the jaw. The teeth should 

 be reduced to the level of the others with a saw, and occasionally 

 looked to, because the difficulty will return. Horses often pine 

 away from this unsuspected cause. Every horse that grows thin 

 without apparent cause, especially if he quids, (partly chews and 

 then drops his feed) should be looked to in this particular. Very 

 irregular teeth lessen the value of a horse, and to all intents and 

 purposes constitute unsoundness. 



Decayed teeth should be removed to prevent injury to. the other 

 teeth and to the jaw. The hammer and punch should never be 

 resorted to in this operation, but a keyed instrument, like that of 

 the human subject, only on a larger scale.* 



Fever; cough, catarrhal affections generally, disease of the eyes, 

 cutaneous affections, diarrhoea, dysentery, loss of appetite, and 

 general derangement, will frequently be traced by the careful 

 observer to irritation from teething, in the colt. 



It is a rule scarcely admitting of the slightest deviation, that, 

 when young horses are laboring under any febrile affection, the 

 mouth should be examined, and if the tushes are prominent and 

 pushing against the gums, a crucial (in the form of a cross) inci- 

 sion should be made across them. Relief will often be immediate. 



THE TONGUE. 



The tongue is the organ of taste. It is also employed in dis- 

 posing the food for being ground between the teeth, and after- 

 wards collecting it together, and conveying it to the back part of 

 the mouth, in order to be swallowed. It is likewise the main 

 instrument in swallowing, and the canal through which the water 

 passes in the act of drinking. Its form, attachments, &c., are 

 too well known to require description. 



* The keyed instrument is now banished from human practice, and the 

 substitutes for it might probably be advantageously introduced into veteri- 

 nary practice. — American Editor. 



