52 
PRECAUTIONS IN EXTRACTING HORSES TEETH. 
For extracting molars, a tooth-key, resembling that formerly used in human 
dentistry, has been recommended. But, unless for removing the short teeth 
of old horses, this instrument is useless. 
The extracted tooth generally shows evidence of pathological processes. 
Where purulent periostitis has existed, the root is roughened and denuded 
of periosteum. Other portions of the root exhibit shreds of periosteum, and 
sometimes exostoses. 
Treatment after extraction is seldom necessary, but when cleansing the 
parts a plug of tow or jute soaked in a disinfectant may be introduced into 
the tooth socket. It is particularly useful where dental fistulas have existed, 
but must be renewed daily. 
In drawing several teeth at one time, it is well to first extract the lowest 
and most posterior. This minimises 
the difficulties caused by bleeding. 
Cases of unusually large teeth have 
been reported. Degive extracted a 
horse’s tooth which weighed 15 ounces. 
Teeth are said to have been success¬ 
fully transplanted, but such reports 
must be received with caution. South 
describes having, in 1886, replaced a 
carious third molar by a similar tooth 
removed from a dead horse. How long 
this remained in position is not stated. 
In 1887, in the clinique of the Berlin 
college, the first upper molar of a cart¬ 
horse was removed by punching, as 
the tooth crown was broken away. In 
1890 the horse was brought back, the 
owner stating that it had for a long 
time suffered from an offensive nasal 
discharge. An examination showed 
that the left nostril was blocked with 
masses of food, which had entered by 
an opening in the now empty alveolus. 
The passage was large enough to admit 
the little finger. The upper maxillary 
sinus proved healthy on trephining. 
After carefully removing every particle 
n . °f food from the nostril, and cutting 
down the overgrown first molar of the lower jaw, the alveolus was 
thoroughly cleansed and stopped with a mass of gutta-percha, softened in hot 
water. To give it a more secure hold, a few grooves had previously been 
filed on the teeth on either side. The nasal discharge ceased after this opera- 
tion, and several weeks later the gutta-percha was found still in position, and 
quite Mulling its object. Mastication appeared in no way disturbed, and the 
horse lived for several years in the same condition. Voigtlander describes a 
similar case, though the horse had finally to be killed. Some very interesting 
cases of this character will be found in Cadiot and Dollar’s “ Clinical Veterinary 
Medicine and Surgery,” pp. 8 el seq. J 
A communication from Paris describes the extraction of an elephant’s tusk 
measuring 1| yards in length. This was first sawn off, and the root, which 
weighed 18 lbs. (?) then drawn with forceps. The elephant suffered a good 
deal, but is said to have completely recovered. (Her. Rep. vol. xiii. p. 178) 
It is seldom needful to extract incisors, though the operation is often done 
Fig. 30. —Gunther’s 
forceps for the 
incisors. 
Fig. 31. —Ordinary 
forceps for the 
incisors. 
