224 
ON DISEASES OF THE DENTAL APPARATUS 
to trituration exists ; but often even the cheeks at this side are 
filled with the accumulation of mal-ground food, which sojourns 
there. The attention being once called to this region, the mouth 
must be cleaned with some injection, and then the evil appears in 
full force. 
If, however, we cannot recognise with the eye the nature of 
this evil, on account of its situation being far back in the mouth, 
and the motions of the base of the tongue from one side to the 
other intercepting the view of the back molars, it will be neces- 
sary to explore by the touch. The mouth being held open by the 
aid of a suitable speculum oris, or other machine solidly fixed, 
the hand must be introduced into the buccal cavity, and the fingers 
conducted rapidly either within or without the arcades, but never 
on the dental tables, because in the latter case there is much 
danger of serious injury by the motions of the jaws grinding the 
fingers of the operator between the teeth. Indeed, whatever may 
be the degree of forced dilatation of the mouth, it is never suffi- 
cient to determine a very great separation of the jaws in the region 
of the last molar, and the animal, in the constant efforts which he 
makes in order to conquer the resistance of the dilating machine, 
elevates the lower jaw, at the depth of the mouth, sufficiently to 
bring the dental tables of both jaws almost into apposition at the 
point of junction of the arcades. 
The exploration by the fingers generally removes all doubts left 
in the mind of the operator by the examination with the eyes. In 
fact, one can perfectly perceive by the touch the projections, the 
inequalities, the vicious inclinations of the dental planes, the ex- 
aggerated usure, or the fracture of the teeth, which places the 
crowns of the latter on a level with the gums, the swelling of the 
alveoles, &c. 
When the buccal membrane has been excoriated by the contact 
of unequal teeth, and when the gums are vividly inflamed by the 
friction that they suffer, and when the bones of the jaws have 
been contused, and they sphacelate or suppurate, there are some 
modifications of the general symptoms; in this case the animals 
ultimately lose their appetite and cease to try to seize their ali- 
ments ; they are dull, “ crest-fallen,” and agitated with febrile 
action however little the heart of the inflammation may be ex- 
tended. 
The saliva which dribbles from the mouth is stringy, and even 
foetid when it is mixed with pus ; the mouth is hot, its membrane 
is injected, and in those regions which have been the point of de- 
parture of this diffuse inflammation, may be remarked lesions in 
relation with the action of the cause which has produced them ; 
such as bad wounds at the internal face of the cheeks, when they 
