230 
ON DISEASES OF THE DENTAL APPARATUS 
tusks from each other was so small as to make their teeth inter- 
fere with the tongue, which, after the animal had been ridden 
with restraint by a horse-breaker, was found to be nearly cut 
through at each side by the tusks. The consequence of this was, 
that the tongue became swollen to an enormous extent, and 
the presence of the tusks still irritating it more and more, rendered 
it necessary that they should be removed, which was done by 
cutting them off to the level of the gum with a bone forceps ; 
which being done, the tongue itself was scarified, and a cold lotion 
having been applied, the animal was fit for work at the end 
of a week. Perhaps, at first, it might seem better practice in 
such a case to draw out the tusks entirely ; but when the great 
length and obliquity of their roots, coupled with the fact of their 
being situated in the weakest part of the jaw are considered, it 
will be obvious that such a procedure would, in all probability, be 
followed by the most fearful consequences, such as fracture of the 
jaw, osteo-sarcoma, &c., the former of which happened under our 
own observation. 
Another deformity is not very uncommon in the incisor teeth of 
horses, although by no means so frequent as in the human subject: 
it is the presence of a tooth isolated and situated either within 
or without the regular row, and most commonly in the upper jaw. 
When it is situated in front of the row of incisors, it interferes 
with the prehensile functions of the lips, so importantly exercised 
in gathering food into the mouth, and sometimes excites inflamma- 
tion and sloughing of the internal part of the lip itself. In this 
case it is necessary to have recourse to the operation of extraction 
of the tooth, which, from the direction of the root, may be done with 
perfect safety with a pair of forceps. 
If, however, the tooth be situated within the incisive row, 
it will, as soon as it attains a certain length, become a material 
hinderance to mastication, inasmuch as it will prevent the free 
motion of the tongue, which it will, in all probability, excoriate 
and inflame. In this case the operation of extraction cannot so 
easily be had recourse to, nor is it so safe as when the tooth is 
situated anteriorly to the incisors. For our part, in the most of 
such instances, we prefer cutting it to the level of the surrounding 
fleshy parts with the bone forceps, the mouth having been previ- 
ously arranged with the speculum oris, and the tongue held, &c. 
There are, however, some cases which demand the extraction of 
the tooth, and in such instances a pair of crank forceps should be 
used* 
