Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-04
Diseased Teeth OF EEnrSeS

Many horses throughout the country suffer
from decayed and aching teeth; but our veteri-
nary writers have failed to give US symptoms
indicating difficulties of this character and as
have given this branch Of veterinary science
my especial attention for twelve years | will
give to the readers of your valuable paper the
symptoms indicating diseased or defective teeth
1t is generally supposed by horse owners that
none but old horses suffer from diseased teeth :
but such is not the case. Colts as well as horses
OF all ages. are alike subject to diseased teeth
Inc first and most common are sharp project
Ing corners. caused by uneven wear of the teeth
These sharp corners cut and wound the cheek
upon the inside. causing the horse to turn his
head to one side while eating or driyinr: also
drool, Or froth at the mouth while driving or
eating.
Next we find split molar teeth. The cause of
this difficulty L have not fully decided. but
think 1t is done by the horse getting some hard
substance between the teeth while eating which
breaks the enamel or hard covering of the tooth
The feed then crowds into the cavity; the tooth
decays. The cavity grows deeper the proven
der is pressed in tighter. until portion of the
tooth is split off and hangs only to the gum
causing the horse to ''quid' his ferd-tnat is
drop 4uids OF partly mastcated hay from the
mouth. The horse gradually loses flesh and the
owner wonders what is the matter with the
horse. Only few weeks ago my attention was
called to twO-year old colt that was affected
In thisway. and could not even eat grass. and
was very poor. l extracted the tooth. and tn,
colt ate az though he was starving, and has
since gained flesh rapidly Long molar-teeth
are found in horses from seven wears
old and upward. and are brought about
in this manner: Whenever a tooth DECAYS the
opposing tooth rises out of it's socket, from
disposition of bOny matter at the bottom of the
alvelus, and the decayed tooth wears away until
the opposing tooth presses against the gum caus-
ing the horse untold misery and loss of~1lesh
You will also notice that it takes longer for him
to eat his allowance. liberated mOlar teeth in
the upper jaw may be known by enlargements
below the eye on the side of the face, which i'm
many instances break on the outside and dis
charge thick white matter. This is the case
when the first, second or third molar tooth is
affected; but when the fourth, fifth or sixth
m0lar is diseased then there is discharge from
the nostrl upon the affected side having a very
obnoxious OdOr. After the disease has existed
for some time there is slight discharge from
the other nostril and the horse breathes hard.
especially when driven fast, caused by filing up
OF the nasal passage The only remedy is the
extraction of the tooth. and then open the head
from the outside. in order to remove the accu-
INFLATED concrete pus or hardened matters from
the cultural pouches and clean out the nasal
passage. and a cure is certain.
liberated mOlars in the lower jaw NAV be
known by hard, bOny punches on the lower
jaw. In some cases there is not much enlarge
ment. but fstula sore. that cannot be cured
until the tooth is taken out. This difficulty is
usually found in colts. and is caused by the re-
tention OF the mik-tOOth, which does not alb
s0rb fast enough to permit the permanent
tooth to rise up; consequently inflammation and
liberation follow. The remedy is to extract the
tooth and remove all diseased portions to the
bone, and the sore will heal and the bunch in
many instances will absorb. In cases Of long
standing there is very little absorption Of the
bunch, although the sore viii heal-A. II. Boliia.
y. s., IN I0ud Farmer.