74 THE OBANGE COUNTY 



larly so in the lower jaw. The use of these tushes in the 

 domesticated state of the horse is not evident; but they were 

 probably designed as weapons of offence in the wild state of 

 the animals. Attempts are too frequently made to hasten the 

 appearance of the second and the corner teeth, in the same 

 manner as described with regard to the first, and the gum is 

 often deeply lanced in order to hasten the appearance of the 

 tush. 



At six years old the mark on the central nippers will be 

 diminished, if not obliterated. A depression and a mark of 

 rather brown hue may remain, but the deep blacked hole in 

 the centre will no longer be found. The other incisors will 

 also be somewhat worn, and the tush fully developed. 



At seven the mark on the next pair of incisors will have 

 nearly disappeared, and the tush will be rounder at the 

 point and the edges. 



At eight the mark will be gone from all the incisor teeth, 

 and the tush will be evidently rounder and blunter. 



At this period another piece of trickery is occasionally 

 practiced. The breeder had, until the animal was five years 

 old, been endeavoring to give him an older appearance than 

 his years entitled him to, because, in proportion as he 

 approached the period when his powers were most perfectly 

 developed, his value increased; but now he endeavors to 

 conceal the ravages of age. The horse is cast, and with a 

 sharp-pointed steel instrument a little hole is dug on the sur- 

 face of the corner incisor, to which a red-hot iron is after- 

 wards applied. An indelible black mark is thus left on the 

 tooth. Sometimes the roguery is carried further; the next 

 tooth is slightly touched with the engraver and the cautery ; 

 but here the dishonest dealer generally overreaches himself, 

 for the form and general appearance of a six-year old horse 

 can rarely be given to one which has passed his eighth year. 

 The eighth year having passed, it is difficult to decide on the 

 exact age of the horse. The incisors of the upper jaw are 

 then the best guides. At nine years the mark will be worn 

 away from the central teeth; at eleven, from the next pair ; 

 and at twelve from the corner ones. The tush likewise 

 becomes shorter and blunter. 



There are many circumstances which render a decision as 

 to the age of the horse very difficult after the marks are 

 effaced from the lower incisors, and even before that period. 

 Horses always kept in the stable have the mark much sooner 

 worn out than those that are at grass; and it is impossible 

 to form any certain calculation as to crib-biters. 



