124 
THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
Causes. — It is simply the result of shedding the tem- 
porary teeth. 
Symptoms. — There is a swelling of the gums in the 
upper part of the mouth, behind the front teeth. Here, too, 
they are red and pressure of the finger indicates that they 
are quite sore. 
Treatment. — Harsh treatment should be avoided as the 
swelling usually disappears of its own accord as soon as all 
the teeth are shed and new ones come in. It is well to cut 
the gums in a few places with a sharp knife. This relieves 
the congestion and soreness. Rub a couple of times a day 
with alum water — about two teaspoonfuls of alum to a pint 
of water. Care must be taken to avoid cutting back of the 
third bar or ridge in the roof of the mouth because of the 
danger of cutting the large artery situated at this point, 
which when cut, bleeds very freely. If by accident this 
artery be cut, stop the bleeding in the following manner: 
Place a large piece of cotton batting in the roof of the mouth 
directly over the cut. Bandage through the mouth and over 
the nose in such a manner as to hold the batting firmly 
against the opening from which the blood is flowing. Tie 
him up so that he cannot eat. After twenty-four hours the 
bandage may be safely removed. 
3. Parrot Mouth. 
This is not a disease but simply a deformed mouth. The 
upper jaw is longer than the lower, causing the teeth of the 
upper to project over those of the lower. These projecting 
teeth generally get very long. It is always well to examine 
a horse's mouth before purchasing for fear of trouble of this 
kind. A horse with a parrot mouth should never be turned 
out to pasture, as it is impossible for him to graze because of 
the front teeth not coming together properly. In some cases, 
however, such make very good workhorses if they are kept 
in the stable and fed on hay and oats. Horses of this kind 
are considered to be unsound. 
4. Wolf Teeth. 
These are two small teeth found in the upper jaw in 
front of the grinders, one on each side. Their presence affect 
the eyes, causing them to run water and look dull. In some 
cases if very large they interfere with eating. 
Treatment. — They should be removed. Put a twitch on 
the horse's nose and pull them out Vith a wolf-tooth forceps. 
