632 ON THE DISEASES OF THE TEETH OF THE HORSE. 
which it was our intention to extract. Neither must it be sup- 
posed that at all times we shall be enabled to extract the tooth, 
although it should be diseased, because its peculiar situation 
and length of fang may render vain all our efforts; therefore, 
taking into consideration the power that you possess in such an 
instrument as this is, such force only should be applied as in the 
judgment of the operator would be sufficient to draw the tooth : 
for otherwise fracture of the jaw might ensue. Having tested 
the tooth, and found its immediate extraction to be an impos- 
sibility, with the use of so much force or power as he may deem 
it prudent to apply, the operator must, nevertheless, not despair; 
neither must he blame the forceps as being inefficient, but he 
must leave disease to work further havoc on the tooth, and 
then he will find that no difficulty will arise. But, as veteri- 
nary surgeons, it becomes our duty to alleviate the sufferings of 
our patients; and while decay and absorption are going on, we 
should recommend our employers to give the animal ali- 
ment of the most nutritious kind, and in such a prepared form 
as will not require the full work of the masticatory apparatus. 
By such means we may support the animal through the progress 
of disease, without allowing him to be reduced to that state of 
emaciation in which we sometimes behold him. 
And now, with your permission, we will consider some of the 
causes likely to produce disease of the molar teeth. To the 
anatomy of the teeth I shall not allude, or to the structures 
which compose them, but rather refer you to that excellent and 
recent work lately published by Mr. Mayhew, “ On the Age of 
the Horse.” 
I am aware that the cause of disease of the teeth, to a certain 
extent, must always remain a mystery ; yet, from observation 
and reflection, we may be able to deduce conclusions which 
practice will confirm. First, we must consider the two classes 
of horses that we are principally called upon to attend, namely, 
the cart or draft-horse, and the hack or carriage-horse. The 
latter animals, so far as my observations have led me, appear to 
be less liable to diseases of the teeth than those of a coarser 
breed. Now, may not this be caused by the better attention 
which they meet with in stable management? — for we may ob- 
serve that the good and efficient groom regularly sifts the pro- 
vender previous to feeding his animal, and any foreign matters, 
such as stones, &c., are rejected, thereby preventing unequal 
concussion to the teeth. But the cart-horse, and the machine- 
horse of our London omnibus proprietors, not receiving this 
attention, we find that they are more subject to diseases of the 
teeth: may not this, therefore, be one of the causes? Also, as 
the animal becomes aged, we find that we get divisions or inter- 
