Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-11-14
Horses with the TOOthache.

Horses, like human beings, are sub
ected to the most excruciating tooth
aches, and it is only within the past few
years that any attempt has been made
by veterinary surgeons to allay the pain
and extract or fill their teeth. 1t is only
after patient study, too, that one is able
to discover when a horse is suffering,
and upon what tooth to light would
puzzle, indeed, the phenomenal Phila-
delphia lawyer. When suffering from
toothache, horses manifest the greatest
impatience, and are vicious and unman-
ageable, and bite and kick continually.
Stablemen and managers at different
times have been badly bitten or kicked
by horses suffering from toothache, who
at other times are the most tocile crea-
lures. The experiments made by vet
erinary surgeons have been of great
practical advantage, and they are grad
ually getting the matter down to per-
feet science
"What is the mode of treating tooth
ache in a horse pi,Syas asked of a veter-
mary surgeon the other day.
"Well. they differ, according to cir
cumstances. Sometimes horse is in
the stable and sometimes in the field
when attacked, and the operator must
use his judgment. Generally, however,
a man puts his arm around the horses
head, and with his disengaged hand
presses hard on the nose of the animal.
Then, without more ado, the hand is
thrust into the mouth and the Jaws felt
slowly and gently, then each tooth is
felt, and when the right one is touched
there is no mistaking it, as the horse
elevates his feet in manner something
after the style of the boss danseuse. In
most cases the defective tooth is found
at the sides of the jaw, where the sharp
points have lacerated the flesh. A file
must then be inserted and the points
filed down, and in short time the ami
NAL feels relieved. But this is not
actual toothache. The gradual growing
of the molals and the sharpening of the
edges, however, leads to it How can |
tell when the horse has toothacheP
Why, it's easy enough; you can tell in
the manner in which he holds his head.
When horse is affected it goes about
with the head down and the lower lip
drooping, and if the rein is pulled
sharply the creature is ready to jump
and prance. Then again the eyes are
fired, and if the horse is compelled to
back by the pressure of the rein on his
teeth the agony is terrible, and the at
tention of the driver is thus attracted
"When the teeth are badly decayed,
are they drawnP"
Sometimes. but as a rule they are
cauterized."
"Is filling much in use?"
"No; it is impossible, almost, to do
the job successfully. Wads of hay or
other matter are frequently placed in
the cavities, but nothing more, and it is
only done to keep out the cold water"
"What instrument is used in cutting
down the taeth?"
"a singularly shaped instrument call
ed a slide is employed, and after the
tooth is cut it is filed down. When q
tooth has to be drawn a strong pair of
forceps are employed"
"How do the horses stand the opera
tionP"
"Well, without much trouble; when
good hold is obtained on the tooth a
slight twist is given to loosen it, and
then when ten or twelve pound pres
sure is obtained the tooth is drawn out
by force"
"This occasions great loss of blood,
does it notPn
son the contrary, after the first few
hours bleeding ceases; but | have
known horses to bleed to death from
having tooth extracted"
do you use anesthetics to stupefy
the animalP"
"Oh, no, nothing whatever. 1t is
very painful, but the horses bear it well
usually"
About the charges. DO you charge
muchp"
"The charges vary greatly. The
price is regulated by the time expended
on the animals mouth, the value of the
horse, etc. In cases of valuable horses
we charge little extra, but the ordin-
airy fees are from SO to SIS for extracting.
| have charged as much as $50, how
ever, to very valuable horses. York
Hercary.