254 ANIMAL DENTISTRY. 



the trimming of an elongation, or the filing of enamel points 

 which wound the mucous membrane, will promptly cure the 

 aberration. In cases of senile origin, loose teeth are ex- 

 tracted and the elongations are carefully blunted without 

 further disturbing their implantations. The food should be 

 of a character requiring but little mastication. Ground corn, 

 ground oats, cut hay and bran, given dry, is the most suit- 

 able diet to prolong the life of an old animal so afflicted. 



In the third form the aberration may often be overcome 

 by withholding hay from the food allowance. For reasons 

 difficult to explain, hay is the foodstuff usually quidded. 

 Corn, oats, barley and bran are seldom ejected in this form. 

 In addition, the molars must be well examined to exclude 

 them as the cause of the disorder. 



EJECTING FOOD. 

 The ejection of food, partially or completely masticated, 

 occurs as a symptom of quidding, from causes enumerated 

 above, and from abnormalities of the mouth or teeth that 

 produce pain when mastication is attempted. A split molar 

 tooth that wounds the buccal surface, carcinoma of the pal- 

 ate, sarcoma of the jaw, foreign bodies in the tongue or 

 cheek, and a decaying molar, are among the lesions often 

 responsible for this condition. 



BOLTING FOOD. 



Bolting food refers to the aberration of eating rapidly 

 and without sufficient comminution. It is more of a habit 

 than a disease, and is often acquired by allowing animals to 

 become too hungry. The nose-bag method of feeding is 

 prolific in the production of the habit, which is still further 

 augmented by dental disorders that induce animals to avoid 

 persistent mastication. The habit causes indigestion and 

 colics, and results in the loss of no small amounts of food, 

 that is found unmasticated in the feces. The treatment 



