Special report on diseases of the horse / by Drs. Pearson [and others].

Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Special report on diseases of the horse / by Drs. Pearson [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/690 (page 43)
    and I confess I was, at my first examination, quite as mucli at a loss to offer any sat- isfactory interpretation as others had been. While meditating, however, after my inspection, on the apparently extraordinary nature of the case, it struck me that I had not seen the tusks. I went back into the stable and discovered two little tumors, red and hard, in the situation of the inferior tusks, which, when pressed, gave the animal insufferable pain. I instantly took out my pocketknife and made crucial incisions through them both, down to the coming teeth, from which moment the horse recovered his appetite and, by degrees, his wonted condition. The mouths of young horses should be examined from time to time to see if one or more of the milk teeth are not remaining too long, caus- ing the second teeth to grow in crooked, in which case the first teeth should be removed with the forceps. Irregularities of teeth.—There is quite a fashion of late years, espe- cially in large cities, to have horses’ teeth regularly “floated,” or “rasped,” by “veterinary dentists.” In some instances this is very beneficial, while in most cases it is entirely unnecessary. From the character of the food, the rubbing, or grinding, surface of the horse’s teeth should be rough. Still, we must remember that the upper jaw is somewhat wider than the lower, and that, from the fact of the teeth not being perfectly apposed, a sharp ridge is left unworn on the inside of the lower molars and on the outside of the upper, which may excori- ate the tongue or cheeks to a considerable extent. This condition can readily be felt by the hand, and these sharp ridges when found should be rasped down by a guarded rasp. In some instances the first or last molar tooth is unnaturally long, owing to the fact that its fellow in the opposite jaw has been lost or does not close perfectly against it. Should it be the last molar that is thus elongated it will require the aid of the veterinary surgeon, who has the necessary forceps or chisel for cutting it. The front molar may be rasped down, if much patience is taken. In decay of the teeth it is quite common to find the tooth correspond- ing to the decayed one on the opposite jaw very much elongated, sometimes to such an extent that the mouth can not be perfectly closed. Such teeth must also be shortened by the tooth forceps, chisel, tooth saw, or rasp. In all instances where horses “ quid” their food, where they are slobbering, or where they evince pain in mastication, shown by holding their head to one side while chewing, the teeth should be carefully examined. Horses whose teeth have unduly sharp edges are likely to drive badly; they pull to one side, do not bear on the bit, or bear on too hard and “big,” toss the head, and start suddenly when a tender spot is touched. If, as is mostly the case, all the symptoms are referable to sharp corners or projections of the teeth, these must be removed b}^ the rasp. If decayed teeth are found, or other serious difficulty detected, or if the cause of the annojdng symptoms is not discovered, an expert should be called. Toothache.—This is rare in the horse and is mostly witnessed where there is decay of a tooth or inflammation about its root. Toothache