ck into the stable and
discovered two little tumors, red and hard, in the situation of
the inferior tusks, which, when pressed, gave the animal
insufferable pain. I instantly took out my pocketknife and made
crucial incisions through them both, down to the coming teeth,
from which moment the horse recovered his appetite and, by
degrees, his wonted condition.

The mouths of young horses should be examined from time to time to see
whether one or more of the milk teeth are not remaining too long,
causing the second teeth to grow in crooked, in which case the first
teeth should be removed with the forceps.

_Irregularities of teeth._--There is a fashion of late years, especially
in large cities, to have horses' teeth regularly "floated," or "rasped,"
by "veterinary dentists." In some instances this is very beneficial,
while in most cases it is entirely unnecessary. From the character of
the feed, the rubbing, or grinding, surface of the horse's teeth should
be rough. Still, we must remember that the upper jaw is somewhat wider
than the lower, and that, from the fact of the teeth not being perfectly
apposed, a sharp ridge is left unworn on the inside of the lower molars
and on the outside of the upper, which may excoriate the tongue or
cheeks to a considerable extent. This condition may readily be felt by
the hand, and these sharp ridges when found should be rasped down by a
guarded rasp. In some instances the first or last molar tooth is
unnaturally long, owing to the fact that its fellow in the opposite jaw
has been lost or does not close perfectly against it. Should it be the
last molar that is thus elongated, it will require the aid of the
veterinary surgeon, who has the necessary forceps or chisel for cutting
it. The front molar may be rasped down, if much patience is taken. In
decay of the teeth it is quite common to find the tooth corresponding to
the decayed one on the opposite jaw very much elongated, sometimes to
such an extent that the mouth can not be perfectly closed. Such teeth
must also be shortened by the tooth forceps, chisel, tooth saw, or rasp.
In all instances in which horses "quid" their feed, if they are
slobbering, or evince pain in mastication, shown by holding the head to
one side while chewing, the teeth should be carefully examined. Horses
whose teeth have unduly sharp edges are liable to drive badly; they pull
to one side, do not bear on the bit, or bear on too hard