gunther’s dental instruments. 
47 
an anaesthetic necessary, and even in deep narcosis some animals 
react to the blows of the hammer. 
Only the pre-molars and the two first molars of the upper jaw can be 
removed by punching. The last molar having its root in the hindmost 
portion of the superior maxillary sinus cannot be so reached, nor can 
the back molars of the lower jaw, lying as they do too far from the lower 
edge of the bone. Care should be taken in using the punch only 
to strike the affected tooth, otherwise neighbouring teeth, or even the 
maxillary bone may be split. 
During extraction a mouth gag must be used to allow of the hand 
being introduced to catch the tooth and prevent its being swallowed. 
A preferable method consists in only driving the tooth so far downwards 
as to enable it to be reached from the mouth with forceps, with 
which extraction is completed. This gives greater security against such 
an accident. Bouley and Stockfleth, by performing an oesophageal 
operation, succeeded in removing teeth which had been swallowed; 
but in another case the tooth produced perforation of the caecum and 
death. In the upper jaw it is necessary to avoid injuring the seventh 
nerve, in the lower jaw the fifth. After removing the tooth the socket 
is plugged with a piece of antiseptic tow or jute, which, if possible, 
should be renewed daily. In some cases this is indispensable to 
enable the animal to drink. The opening usually closes in three to 
six weeks, but sometimes not till later ; .occasionally a fistula remains. 
Bad results seldom follow skilful removal, but where the tooth or jaw 
bone are splintered serious bleeding or pus formation may ensue. 
The use of the forceps is much preferable to the above described 
process. It is simpler and less painful, although requiring some prac¬ 
tice, strength, and judgment. Drawing a tooth is much less difficult 
in old than in young animals, in which the molars, having been little 
worn, are still long. 
In such cases attention must be paid to the following points :— 
1 . Choice of Forceps .—Those designed by F. and K. Gunther, Bobertson and 
Gowing are amongst the best. They must be very stiong, so as not to spiing 
much, but not very thick in the jaws, as this makes adjustment difficult. As 
the horse’s molars do not lie parallel to one anothei, attention must be given 
to the direction of the pull, and Gunther therefore constructed especial forceps 
for each tooth. 
Forceps acting as levers of the first class, and those as levers ol the second 
class must be distinguished. In the former the jaws are at the end (figs. 20 
and 21 ), in the latter at some distance from it (figs. 24 and 25). As the molars 
are arranged in a fan shape, the crowns of the pre-molars look backwards, those 
of the molars forwards 5 and as it is of the greatest importance that the pull 
should come in the direction of the axis of the tooth, it is clear that the second 
class lever forceps are suitable for the pre-molars, the first class lever for the 
molars For the upper pre-molars the forceps must be somewhat bent just 
in front of the jaws, so that in pulling, their legs may not strike against the 
