148 CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS. 



yellowish vesicles in stomatitis vesicularis. Wounds at the 

 tongue tip and frenulum are produced by rough handling 

 of the bridle bit; sharp teeth produce wounds on the inside 

 of the cheeks, and sides of the tongue. 



Foreign bodies are of frequent occurrence in horses 

 [corn cobs], dogs, and cats, rare in other animals; they con- 

 sist of pieces of bone, needles, etc., occasionally ring-like 

 objects slip over the tongue accidentally : e. g. cross sections 

 of the aorta, intestines, trachea, iron rings, etc., [rubber bands 

 slipped on intentionally by children during play]. The symp- 

 toms are: open mouth and salivation, attempts at removal 

 on part of the animal, eating and drinking interfered with, 

 the tongue swollen. 



Careful manual as well as ocular exam- 

 ination is often necessary to recognize 

 these conditions. 



Condition of the teeth. Examination of the teeth of 

 horses is of particular importance on account of the frequent 

 occurrence of diseases and malformations of these organs. 

 In dogs diseased teeth are also common. 



Abnormal position of the incisors (par- 

 rot mouth and pike mouth) point to the existence of a similar 

 defect in the molars. Parrot mouth is not an uncommon 

 occurrence in high bred colts. In ruminants the incisors are 

 normally loose. Carious incisors and molars occur in dogs 

 in the course of rachitis, distemper, anaemia and stomacace. 



Careful examination of the molars 

 with the aid of a speculum* is indicated when 

 horses reject food after partial mastication, when they show 

 any abnormal masticatory movements, and when large quan- 

 tities of coarse food particles occur in the droppings. The 



*[For horses a speculum is not in all cases necessary for the detection of defects or 

 other abnormal conditions of the teeth. By passing the hand into the mouth atthe bars, 

 at the same time pushing the tongue to the opposite side that organ is forced between 

 the molar teeth on that side and the animal will voluntarily keep its jaws sufficiently 

 separated to permit examination of the condition of the teeth without endangering the 

 safety of the operator. The right molars are examined with the right, the left with the 

 left hand, the operator facing the animal.] 



