The Cook County herald., 1905-09-30

STOCK. | !! I.
Teethinu and Eye Trouble.

farmers and horsemen that "wolf
ness" and other eye troubles seen
when colts are three or four years of
age. It is time for intelligent men
to understand that this alleged cause
Of eye disease is erroneous. In short,
wolf teeth do not cause any derange.
ment OF any sort duplicating or affect
ing the eyes. Wolf teeth are short,
small, shallow rooted teeth, and they
come into the mouth with the first
set OF molar teeth, and are therefore
present long before eye disease ap-
pears: The process of teething is,
however, likely to aggravate into ac-
t1Vlty' any predisposition that the colt
may have inherited toward the de-
Velopment of eye disease. If, for in
stance, the colt is from sire or dam
affected with periodic ophthalmia
\moon blindness), that disease will be
most apt to show up when the colt
is three or four years of age. At that
time, when eye disease is noticed for
the hrst time, the owner makes an
examination of the mouth, and per-
chance finds wolf teeth just in front
OF the first upper molars. These SUI
perfuous teeth are Immediately
blamed for the eye disease and are
knocked out or extracted. The dis
ease does not then disappear, but re-
ours at intervals and finally causes
hi1n0nGCC nf h~%
The wolf teeth did not cause the
trouble and were present in the mouth
for years before the owner discovered
them. It should be remembered, too,
that hundreds of horses have eve dis
] ease, but are found to be without wolf
teeth. When a colt is three years old
he acquires eight new molar teeth
| (grinders), and four front ones (in-
| clsors). A year later he gets eight
additional molars. four front teeth and
four tushes (bridle teeth). At these
ages, as can well be understood, the
gums and palate of the mouth swell
and the horse has difficulty in masti
eating food on that account. He is
! also apt to suffer from low fever and
be dull and sluggish. It is at this
time, when sick from dentition irri
| tation, that the wolf teeth are discov
! cred, as the owner looks for them
when 1t is seen that the eyes are
weak. On examination, no inf1amma
ton will be found about the small
roots Of the wolf teeth at this time
The molar teeth are very deeply i'm
bedded in the mouth, as are the in
cisor teeth, and the gums about then
are found to be greatly swollen, ho
and sore. If anything in the mouth
would cause trouble of the eyes, i
would surely be these large teeth, ane
not the small, harmless wolf teeth
which tend to fall out when a horse
is seven or eight years of age.
An experienced writer has advised
that while teeth irritation does no
cause eye disease, it is always vel
to check it as much as possible whe1
the colt is seen to be badly affected
II constipation comes on when a col
is cutting teeth, soft mashes of whea
bran should be given in place of oat!
and other dry food, and grass or ever
ensilage in small quantities will prov,
helpful. If these are not available, O.
do not prove effectual, one to twt
ounces of glauber' salts may be give1
in the feed or drinking water ono,
daily. If the old teeth do not fal
early and spontaneously, but remain
| adherent to the crOwnc of tho ort+;o
teeth, they should be removed. II th'
gums are seen to be red and mucl
swollen, great deal of relief is tt
be had by lancing down upon the hare
tooth. Where the tushes are found t,
be pressing upon the gums, but no
coming through quickly enough, it il
a very simple matter to cut the gums
over the tooth by merely giving tn,
part stroke with a coarse rasp O
dentistry float. This causes less bleed
ing than lance, and it is much easie
to do that with the sharp instrument
Young colts, when cutting teeth, shoul.
be allowed to chew on few old, hare
ears of corn daily. This will tend t,
prevent gnawing upon the manger an,
acquiring the bad habit of cribbin,
and windsucking, which is apt to b,
learned at this time. The way to pre
vent eye disease is to breed from
horses having sound eyes. The vol
teeth need not be taken into account
and are entirely harmless.-As S
Alexander in Farmers Review.