3G2 



THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



At AnnuT thf, F.ir.riTii yrah tlio upper nippors present the same appear- 

 ance as already ileserihed in tlie lowei- nipjiers at six 3'ears old. Both tushes 

 are considerably worn away at their j)oints, and the upper ones more so 

 than the lower. 



At nine years of age the upper middle nippers arc worn down com- 

 jilctely. The next pair have a slight mark left, but their surfaces are quite 

 level, and the coi-ner nippers liave only a black stain, without any central 

 depression. 



After nine years the age of the horse can only be guessed at from his 

 teeth, which gradually grow in length, and arc more in a line with the jaw. 



Fio. 9.— Lower Nippers and Tushes at Five Vfars Oli>. 



1. 1. Central nippers, with their marks almost 



entirely worn out. 



2. 2. Next nijipers, showing marks jiartially 



woni. 



3. 3. Comer nipjiers, with the mark plainly seen, 



but the edges jiartially worn. 



4. 4. Tushes, with the grooves inside almost 



obliteratetl. 



The section of each nipper presented to the eye becomes more and more 

 triangular instead of being oval, as seen in Figs. 10 and 11 ; but after about 

 the twelfth year the triangular section disappears, and the tooth becomes 

 nearly round. In accordance with the increase of length is the colour of the 

 tooth altered, being of a dirty yellow in very old horses, with occasional 

 streaks of brown and black. The tushes wear tlown to a very small size, 

 and very often one or both drop out. 



Allusion has already been made to the practice of ^emo^^ng the milk 

 nippers for the purpose of inducing a more rapid growth of the next set, 

 which, however, is not materially aflected by the operation, but dishonest 

 dealers have recourse to another deception, called bishoping, by which an 



