The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-06-22
ANIMAL DENTISTRY.
Now to Extract serpcnt's Teeth and &
Assist Sick Birds.

Now to Extract serpcnt's Teeth and to
Assist Sick Birds.
An odd phase OF animal dentistry is
the removal of the fangs Of poisonous
snakes. Formerly these were broken
off by using piece of wood and ham
mer. This gave satisfaction in most
instances, but not always. On several
occasions cobras, whose fangs have
been broken off have struck keepers or
neighboring animals with serious and
even fatal results. The reason lies in
the fact that the glands which secrete
the virus are separate from the fangs.
They are practically little poison bags
situated in the gum and connected with
the fangs by short tubes. The fangs
are channeled so as to be half hollow.
When not in use they are folded back
and close the tubes by their position.
When the reptile employs them, they
are thrown forward, the tubes are
opened and the glands excited to the
utmost.
1t was found that when the fang is
extracted it pulls away with it the
tubes and the glands in whole or in
part. Tho present practice is based
upon this fact. The serpent is securely
fastened, the best method being to hang
him up by a stout cord around the
neck. The waists fastened to a bar to
prevent squirming. The mouth is
forced open, or when the snake opens
it in rage is held open by piece of
wood placed far back between the jaws.
The dentist clutches the fangs with his
forceps as far down upon the roots as
he can possibly reach and pulls slightly.
twisting the instrument. The fangs
come out without much difficulty. and
with them are always the poison tubes
and almost always large pieces of the
poison glands. The wounds thus oc-
casioned heal in about four days, leav-
ing small smooth scar. The glands
seem after this to become absorbed by
the reptiles system.
The cobra is the easiest snake to OPP
crate upon, being heavy, slow and
stupid; the fer-du-lance of the West
Indies is the most difficult, being light,
quick and very fierce. The rattlesnake,
copperhead, moccasin, adder and viper
come in between the two extremes. 1t
is wonderful how similar all these
snakes are so far as their death-dealiug
apparatus is concerned. They all seem
to have been turned from the same
general model.
There is one very prevalent disorder,
which though not of dental char
acter, is treated chiefly by animal den
fists. 1t is that series of diseases of
birds of which the mocking-bird PIP is
the best type. The ailment is prJo-
ably occasioned by the mechanical ir-
ritation of the food used, and consists
of horny growth on the tongue,
which gradually extends from the
root to the tip. As the abnormal
growth progresses the bird finds ever
increasing difficulty to eat and sing,
finally losing both its appetite and
power of music. Painful sickness is an
invariable, and death a not uncommon,
consequence. The treatment is sim
plicity itself. The birds mouth is
forced open until the tongue protrudes,
when the dentist loosens the horny
scale with his finger nail at the root Of
the tongue. He scratches it forward,
the horn loosening with neither
difficulty or pain, until the tip is
reached, when it falls III. A clean,
healthy, though rather, sensitive sur
face is left, which toughens in a few
hours, the bird regaining its health
and song at the same time. The oper-
alton lasts only one or two minutes.
Any one who possesses the least pa
tience can do it without trouble. The
animal dentist or bird fancier charges
$1.50 or so for the service, and regards
it as one of the "soft snaps" of the
profession.
A trouble similar in nature arises
from growth of the bill or claws when
bird has no opportunity to wear them
down by regular use. The bealS is
filed and the claws are clipped with
sharp scissors. Care should be taken
not to touch the quick, which runs
through both bill and claws, and cor
responds closely to the quicd Of human
nails. If this is touched, it not only
produces great pain, but also more or
less hemorrhage.-N. Y. Sun.