254 
i 
E. H. SHEPAKD. 
Not long since I removed what remained of a third infe¬ 
rior deciduous molar from a horse seven years old. The cap 
had become firmly wedged in between the second and fourth 
permanent molars, and the third permanent had forced its way 
up and by on the outside almost its entire width out of line. 
And soon after I also removed both corner and lateral decid¬ 
uous incisors from a horse of nine years, the permanent 
teeth having grown up in the concavity of the incisor arch. 
Not infrequently the cause of three and four-year-olds being 
“off their feed,” as expressed by the owner, is entirely due to 
the retarded shedding of the deciduous molars. 
The extraction of teeth becomes necessary from a number 
of causes—chief among them is decay. And when thus affect¬ 
ed, and not from any particular aggravating cause, the fourth 
seems to be the most susceptible, undoubtedly because of its 
greater age. And when I find a fourth or fifth molar thus dis¬ 
eased, almost invariably the opposite one in the same jaw is 
likewise similarly affected. From numerous accidents and 
special causes we are often obliged to extract a tooth from a 
young horse. And when we see him a few years later, and 
notice the opposing tooth of the one drawn, then we will 
realize how fast the teeth may push into the mouth and how 
fast the rest are wearing away. The tooth just mentioned 
must be kept at a length corresponding to the adjoining 
teeth, as any excessive length interferes with mastication, not 
only in passing the food backward, but by forcing portions 
of it into the cavity left by the extraction of the offending 
tooth, thus gathering fuel for greater complications. To be 
obliged to extract a tooth because of the excessive length of 
its root is not of frequent occurrence, still such cases are 
sometimes found. It was my privilege to treat a case of this! 
kind which I will briefly describe. A small, grey mare, of per¬ 
haps 900 pounds weight, and five years old, was brought to me 
by the owner, who said that for some time he had noticed a: : 
small bunch growing on her jaw, and recently it had come to 
a head and discharged freely, but now persistently refused to| 
heal. I made an examination and found a small, hard enlarge¬ 
ment directly beneath the root of the third inferior molar, andi 
