DENTAL INDICATIONS OF THE AGE OF A HORSE. 213 



into two portions, the exterior or casing enamel, and the 

 other, the interior, which envelopes the funnel. The enamel 

 being harder, and ofi'ering more resistance than the bony 

 substance that surrounds it on all sides, the central enamel 

 presents a slight prominence, and takes on different forms 

 in proportion as the funnel becomes destroyed and con- 

 tracted. 



As we have stated, the horse has forty teeth ; namely, six 

 incisor, or cutting teeth, in both jaws, (see plate iii. fig. 2, 

 h, h ;) tAvo tushes, or canines, in each jaw, a, a ; and six 

 molars, or grinders, in both jaws, h, h. There is a consider- 

 able vacant space between the incisors and tushes, as also 

 between the tushes and grinders, as will be seen by the 

 figure referred to. These teeth are inserted into sockets, 

 consisting of a spongy, bony substance, called the alveolar 

 process, which forms the edge of the maxillary bones. All 

 the teeth are first germinated in the interior of the maxil- 

 lary bones ; and having acquired a certain size, and the 

 exterior table of their sockets having been dissipated by 

 absorption, they push out above the gums. Those which 

 appear shortly after birth are called sucking, or temporary 

 teeth ; these consist of incisors and the three first grinders. 

 The formation and appearance of the others are later, and 

 are called the permanent teeth ; and those which succeed 

 the temporary are called the replacers, or horse-teeth. 



DENTAL INDICATIONS OF THE AGE OF A HORSE. 



Nothing can more clearly indicate a proof of design than 

 the beautiful contrivance in the formation of the grinders 

 of the horse for the purposes required. They are, like the 

 cutting teeth, covered on the sides with enamel, but not on 

 the top, though several portions of enamel enter into their 

 substance in their internal structure. They are subjected 



