CHAPTER XI 



OPERATIONS ON THE MOUTH, PHARYNX, TONGUE, 

 AND TEETH 



Examination. 



For a superficial examination, a good \ie\\ can readil}' be 

 obtained in canine patients by placing the finger and thumb 

 of the right hand over the upper jaw in such a wa\' as to 

 press the loose, pendulous skin of the upper lip inwards 

 between the molar teeth ; the left hand serves the lo\\'er jaw 

 in a similar manner, and the two are then dra^\•n genth' apart 

 so as to expose the interior. So long as the lips are held in 

 this way a dog cannot bite the fingers of the person conduct- 

 ing the examination, without first biting its own buccal 

 membrane. 



The under surface of the lips can be examined in most 

 cases without difficulty, but in an animal of uncertain temper 

 it is always a wise precaution to first put on an ordinary tape 

 muzzle. Where a prolonged examination is necessary, it 

 facilitates matters very much if the patient is placed on an 

 operating-table in the abdominal position, and the services of 

 some form of mouth speculum are called into requisition. 

 The accompanying figures (Figs. 92 and 93) show different 

 patterns, their method of use hardly needing any explanation. 



A tongue depressor is very useful to hold that organ out of 

 the way ; the handle of a teaspoon or a tablespoon improvises 

 very well for this purpose. 



