ON THE DISEASES OF THE TEETH OF THE HORSE. 639 
used in conjunction with either of the two last-named instru- 
ments. 
Having before explained the use of the large forceps, and 
their application, I now claim your attention to a pair of smaller 
dimensions ( see fig . 6), which, although not so powerful in ac- 
tion, are, nevertheless, capable of doing good service. They 
are a pair of hand forceps, comparatively small, and yet of con- 
siderable size. They have not the cross lever the larger forceps 
possess, and they are billed or necked with a deep fossa or 
notch, which will enable the operator to get a firm hold of the 
tooth close to the gum. 
Scarifications having been previously made with the gum 
lancet, such as the one 1 now exhibit ( see fig. 7), which, as 
you see, is of considerable length, and has a handle of the same 
description as the other instruments. Now, from its length it 
will enable you to scarify the gum without inserting your hand 
through the balling-iron, and thereby obstructing your view of 
the part that you are desirous of cutting, which advantages 
would not be gained if a shorter instrument were employed. 
The small forceps may now be applied and the tooth ex- 
tracted ; but you will not be enabled to use them for such a 
purpose unless absorption has taken place to a very great ex- 
tent; nevertheless, they will be found serviceable when the 
larger ones have been employed and the tooth displaced, but 
left partly adherent. The small forceps may also be used to 
extract those teeth that, in the stable, are termed capped teeth, 
which are the temporary molars, the fangs and bodies of which 
have not been sufficiently absorbed so as to allow of their being 
shed 3 and which, if not extracted, may interfere with the masti- 
catory process, and thus bring about debility in the animal. 
There are instances where we find the teeth loose, although 
caries may not have gone on in the fang, but death of the more 
vascular parts and absorption of the investing membranes have 
occurred. This may arise from some remote cause, and, by the 
extreme length that they possess in their cavities, such teeth 
cannot be at all times extracted in the ordinary manner. It 
will be seen, by the great depth of the alveolar cavity, that an 
obtuse angle will be formed if the leverage be applied in the 
usual way; therefore, it will be found necessary to lift such 
teeth into an horizontal position previous to the turn being 
given for extraction. This may be done by locking the forceps 
upon the tooth and steadily raising it upwards, thereby forming 
a much shorter angle, and then no difficulty will present itself. 
There is, however, another thing we must take into considera- 
tion ; that is, the position of the posterior and anterior teeth. 
The anterior teeth have a backward inclination, while the pos- 
