194 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



inwardly, accuminated towards the point, and slightly 

 incurved at the apex. 



During the long period which the horse is sub- 

 jected to teething, it is surprising how little the 

 animal has suffered from it, and hardly a day of 

 his valuable services will have been lost. In some 

 instances heat and swelling of the gums take place, 

 but this can easily be removed by scarification. 

 Here, then, we have an example of the wisdom and 

 perfection of the works of creation ; were the horse 

 to suffer as much as the human being, he would not 

 be able to chew his food for weeks, and must con- 

 sequently fall off in flesh. Dogs are liable to con- 

 vulsions while cutting their teeth, and many even 

 die during this process. 



At seven years the marks in the four centre 

 incisors are worn out, and are speedily disappearing 

 in the corner ones. The tushes are now undergoing 

 an alteration of form ; they are rounded at the 

 point and edges, but still inflated outwardly, and 

 beginning to round inwardly ; the inner edge of 

 the corner teeth is on a level with the outer, in 

 consequence of wear. Sometimes a notch is ob- 

 servable in the upper corner teeth. (See Plate v, 



%. i.) 



At eight years old all the marks on the teeth of 

 the lower jaw will be obliterated, and will be on a 

 level at the surface ; their form is changed, they 

 assume an oval shape, and the cavity is altered into 

 an elongated transverse protrusion of enamel, which 

 is the termination of the central enamel, or funnel 

 next the root. (Plate v, fig. 2.) After this period 

 it is the practice to examine the nippers of the 

 upper jaw, and to draw deductions as to the age 

 of the horse ; because, for years after the marks 



