EQUINE DENTISTRY. 
251 
effect has been produced, and even then, somewhat from the 
inability of many to make a thorough examination, the exist¬ 
ing conditions are overlooked or neglected until most serious 
results have arisen. The examination of the mouth and its 
contents is a matter of ease to many, but to some an almost 
unsurmountable obstacle; and let me here say that scarcely 
anything will so impress the observer with the efficiency of an 
operator as to see him fearlessly examine with the hand, all 
portions not visable to the eye, using no gag or speculum to 
aid him or irritate his patient. 
In making an examination several preparatory observa¬ 
tions are essential. General appearance of the animal as to 
make up, bodily condition, external symptoms of age, etc., 
with special notice as to disposition, size and shape of head, 
eyes, ears, external enlargements or peculiarities, etc., then a 
decided mentally expressed conclusion as to age, as shown b} 
incisors corroborated by previously noticed indications, fol¬ 
lowed by a most thorough examination of the mouth and its 
contents, with special notice for anything abnormal or in the 
slightest degree peculiar. Probably the most common work 
in connection with the teeth is what is known as diessing 
or “ floating,” removing the sharp edges and corners which 
are usually found on the external border of the superior 
molars and internal border of the infeiior, due to the non¬ 
wearing of these parts as the process of change steadily pi o- 
gresses. 
To do this properly requires some amount of skill, as the 
edges should be dressed but little lower than the plane of the 
table-surface of the tooth ; and as we seldom And the teeth in 
regular line, the work becomes the more complicated as the 
irregularity increases. Again, take one sharp corner 01 point 
of any shape and dress it to the plane of the tooth, and you have 
left, in the place of one long one, two or more shaip, ragged 
edges, not unlike the border of a newly-Aled saw, necessitat¬ 
ing the Anishing touches of a Ane instrument directed with 
care. And then consider that each superior molar has two 
external ridges, and each inferior, one to two internal ones; 
not a single one but may possess the above mentioned projec- 
