The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-13

Operations Which Are Performed
Removing a Decayed Root.


Removing a Decayed Root.
New York Tribune.
At each of its stables the Metropol-
tan Traction Company maintains a hos
pital for the fcar horses sick or tenn
porarily disabled Probably the most
interesting part Of the duties of the
veterinary surgeon in charge is that of
attending to the horses teeth.
Equine dentistry is on a generous
scale, and the formidable
used seem to pertain to a blacksmith
more than a dentist. Once every year
the horses mouths are and
a thorough examination Of their teeth
takes place. The operation is known
technically rs floating" and consists
for the most part of filing off the sharp
edges Of molars which are liable TO
lacerate the mouth Of the animal. The
instruments for this purpose are a heavy
raSp ABOUT a foot long. which is used
for connecting irregularities in the front
teeth, and a similar curved rasp, at
tached to a long handle, which is used
for the molars. No pain seems to be
felt by the horses while the filing is
going on. The veterinary explained
that this was because the teeth Of a
horse are extraordinarily solid, and,
moreover, the canal containing the
sensitive nerve does not extend up very
close to the top Of the tooth.
A far more painful operation is neces-
sary when a tooth becomes too long and
has to be shortened. The teeth Of a
horse are always growing, and when the
animal loses a front tooth the opposing
tooth gradually becomes longer. 1t has
nothing opposite to grind it down, and
would in time very seriously incon-
venience the animal. Time is precious
and horse flesh is cheap. therefore the
shortest possible method is used. TIC
file the tooth down would take too long,
so 1t Is cut of at a single snip with an
instrument which would do the same to
a thin iron bar. The cutters are about
three feet long and have a lever ar
rangement near the cutting edges which
trebles the force which would be OBJ
tained by the use of the handles alone.
The horse is not tied, but simply held
by an attendant while the surgeon ad-
justs the cutting edges to the tooth,
and with a quick pressure Of the long
handles cuts off as much OF the tooth
as required. Before the invention of
this instrument it was customary to cut
OF a tooth by means of a chiseI and
hammer. This vas an exquisitely pain
full operation, whereas with the new in
strument the pain is much less. very
often the animal evincing no discomfort
whatever.
1t is not often that the extraction of
a horses tooth is necessary, but when
II Is the operation Is a TdluGT IOTIUlQdDit
one. The teeth of a horse, despite their
solidity, decay rapidly If they once start,
and a tooth is usually gone before the
veterinary knows that it is decayed-
The instruments for extraction are
somewhat Ike those used in ordinary
dentistry, but much larger. Their ap-
pearance is calculated to give a man
with a toothache a fit. They are about
three feet long and OF great power. 1t
requires a pretty strong pair of arms
to pull out a horses tooth, notwith-
standing the size and strength OF the
forceps. A skillful operator will extract
the offending tooth while al attendant
holds the horses head IL the animal is
a quiet one. With ~high-spirited or
nervous horses an operating table is
required. The animal is backed up 10
the table, which is very solid and with
a hinged top. After being strapped Sc
curely to the top of the table the horse
Is brought TO a recumbent position by
simply turning the top back upon its
hinges. This table Is used for all opera
tons In which q horse is required to be
passive. Great strides have been made
recently In dentistry for horses. Only
Of late has the Importance OF sound
teeth been recognized as contributing
greatly to the service and health OF the
animal Operations are now performed
which would have been deemed impossi-
Bile ten or fifteen 20. IT some
times hapDens hat the root OF . de-
cayed tooth Wil cause trouble toe horse
which can only b relieved By extrGo-
ten. tn Hoof onnDof Vel u xDo0no0