100 THE REMXAXT TEETH. 



there may be cases where they never appear ; but it 

 by no means follows that because a horse is not in pos- 

 session of them that he never had any. There are 

 various causes for their frequent absence, but the chief 

 cause is their small size. Eemnant 

 teeth of the lower jaw, which are 

 very rare, are probably cases of " re- 

 version to a former state." * If these 

 latter teeth were not expelled in the R ^f ant teet ^ ; 

 manner explained below by Mons. 

 Lecoq, the probability is that they would not long 

 withstand the friction of the bit. The upper teeth, 

 however, while they may sometimes be expelled by the 

 bit, are comparatively little disturbed by it, which 

 probably accounts for their now and then remaining 

 in the jaws for years. Another reason for their per- 

 sistence is that their roots are long in proportion to 

 their bodies. The reason why these teeth should not 

 be confounded with supernumerary or abnormal teeth 

 will appear in the succeeding chapter, which is devoted 

 to the consideration of the latter. 



Monsieur Lecoq gives cogent reasons for the fre- 

 quent absence of Remnant teeth. He says: 



" Supplementary molars are sometimes met with in 

 front of the true ones, and there may be four of them, 

 two in either jaw, above and below. They are small 

 teeth, having but little resemblance to the others, are 

 frequently shed with the first deciduous molar, and 

 are not replaced. The first replacing (permanent) 

 molar is always a little more elongated than that 



of the molar teeth of children, as the jaw does not grow large 

 enough for the perfect development of the normal number." 

 * See the second reference note, page 80. 



