ON THE AGE OF THE HORSE. 177 



lip. The ears also drop more or less in a late- 

 ral direction. These external marks of old age, 

 together with those of the teeth, the dealer in 

 horses exerts his ingenuity to counteract. 



He therefore commences his operations by 

 making an opening between the skin and cel- 

 lular membrane, at a small distance above the 

 eye, into which he introduces a quill, and by 

 blowing into it, fills up the cavity and gives it 

 a plump appearance. He proceeds next to 

 furnish the corner teeth with the same marks 

 which they possessed at seven years old. For 

 this purpose he forms an artificial cavity in the 

 head of the tooth with an engraving tool, and 

 gives it a black colour by burning it with a 

 hot iron. This process in the stable vocabulary, 

 is called Bishopping. By such practices as these, 

 an inexperienced person may be deceived ; but 

 by attending to the following observations, the 

 imposition may be easily detected ; for although 

 the dealer has it in his power to make marks or 

 N cavities 



