The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-05-16

d the same. The great cat u thrown
down and bound 80 that Il eal neither
move nor infiict injury upon the attend
ants. The mouth e forced open and kept
50 by wooden wedges. The broken oil
overEFown tooth is then fled down, tho
former until Il Is round and smooth, and
the latter until II is normal size. In the
first part Of the operation the brute is wild
with rage. Itseems to feel insllted, and
desires to avenge itself upon It's human
enemies. As the operation progresses il
q1iets down and when the wedges are re-
moved, and the tongue runs over the i'm
proved teeth, 1t becomes comparatively
tame and quiet.
another odd phaseof animal dentistry
is the removal Of the fangs Of poisonous
snakes. Formerly these were broken of
by using piece Of wood and hammer.
This gave satisfaction In most instances,
but not always. On several occasions
cObras whose fangs had been broken of
have struck keepers or neighboring ami
mails with serious and even fatal results,
The reason lies in the fact that the glands
which secrete the virus are separate from
the iangs. They are practically little poi
son bags, situated in the gums and con-
nected with the fangs by short tubes.
The fangs are channeled so as to be hall
hollow. When not in use they are folded
back and close the tubes by their posi-
ton. When the reptile employs them
they are thrown forward, the tubes are
opened, and the glands excited to the
utmost. II was found that when the fang
is extracted It pulls away with it the
tubes and the glands In whole or in part.
The present practice is based upon this
fact. The serpent is securely fastened,
the best method being to hang him up by
4 stout cord tied around the neck. The
waist is fastened to a bar to prevent
squirming. The mouth is forced open,
or when the snake opens 1t 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 rs he can possibly reach
and pulls slightly, twisting the instru-
ment. 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 glands
seem after this to become absOrbedby the
reptiles system. The cobra is the easiest
snake to operate 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. Il is
wonderful how similar all these snakes
are 90 far as their death dealing apparatus
are concerned. They all seem TO have
been turned from the same general
model. I. tE{
t'Tbereis one very prevalent disorder,
which, though not Of dental character, is
treated chiefly by animal dentists. 1t is
that series Of diseases Of birds Of which the
moeking bird pip is the best type. The all
ment Is probably occasioned by the me-
chanical irritation Of the food used, and
consists Of a horny growth on the tongue,
which gradually extends irem the root to
the tip. As the abnormal growth pro-
crosses, the bird finds ever increasing
difficulty 70 eat and sing, finally losing
both lis appetite and power Of music.
Painful sickness isan invariabIe and death
q pot uncOmmon consequence. The treat
ment isSimplicity itself. The birds mouth
is forced open until the tongue protrudes,
when the dentist loosens the horny scale
with his nn9er-nail at the root Of the
tongue. He scratches 1t forward, the horn
lOosening with nsither difficulty nor pain
until The Zip i Teaehed, when Il falls off.
A clean, heaAhy, though rather sensitive
surface Is left, which tOughens in q few
hours, the bird regaining its health and
song at the same time. The operation
lasts only one or two minutes. Any one
Who possesses the least patience can do it
without trouble. The animal dentist or
bird fancier charges tl.5o or % for the
seFvics, and regards II as one Of the soft
snaps Of the profession.
"a trouble similar In nature arises from
growth Of the bill or claws when a bird
has no opportunity to wear them down
by regular use. The beak Is fled 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 corresponds closely to the
quick Of human nails. II this Is touched
Il not only produces great pain, but also
more or less hemoThage.
These are but few incidents that have
come under my notice." concluded Dr..
Perry, "sinee the animal dentist made his
appearance In the professional world, but
presume there are many more Of equal
novelty and interest"
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