DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS 



301 



can be cured. It usually occurs in young horses and is com- 

 moner in the lower than the upper jaw. 



Irregularities of wear in the teeth occur surprisingly often. 

 They are due to unequal hardness of opposing teeth, or to con- 

 genital deformities, like a narrow upper or lower jaw. The first 

 condition leads to the formation of sharp, enamel points that 

 may injure the tongue or cheeks. Sometimes a wave-formed 

 mouth results, or that closely allied irregularity, the step-formed 

 mouth. Parrot-mouth, or overshot jaw, protruding or under- 



lie. 



78. — Shear- or scissor-formed mouth. This condition might have been 

 prevented by early use of veterinary dental instruments. 



shot jaw, and shear- or scissor-formed mouth (Fig. 78) are con- 

 genital anomalies in which the teeth of the two arcades do not 

 wear on each other. These inequalities are classed as blemishes, 

 unless mastication is so interfered with that the animal cannot 

 chew food properly. Sharp points can be remedied by proper 

 floating or rasping with a special file. Other irregularities may 

 be corrected in large measure by the veterinary dentist. 



CONSTIPATION 



This is not a disease of itself but a symptom of various diseases, 

 particularly those affecting the digestive organs. It is charac- 



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