244 VE TERINAR T DENT A L S URGER 1 . 



face will have come into contact. At three years 

 these edges have come into wear, but not the poster- 

 ior edges. These edges do not come into wear 

 until from eight months to one year later. 



At two and one-half years another important 

 change is taking place. The first and second tem- 

 porary molars are shed and replaced by permanent 

 teeth. They are up and in wear by three years to 

 three years and two months. 



From the third to the fourth year the lateral 

 incisors make their appearance in the same manner as 

 noticed in the central. 



The third molar is replaced by a permanent one 

 at three to three and one-half years, and the sixth 

 molar makes its appearance as a permanent tooth. 



At four years the lateral incisors have their an- 

 terior border in apposition. The posterior surface 

 has not yet come into wear. The third and sixth 

 molars are level or nearly level with the other 

 molars. The tusks, canine, or "bridle" teeth usually 

 make their appearance at the fourth year, but are not 

 fully developed until the horse is five to five and one- 

 half years old. They have no value in determining 

 the age of the animal, their period of cutting being 

 exceedingly variable. In the mare there are usually 

 no canine teeth developed; should they however, 

 be present they are small and blunt and do not make 

 their appearance until a later period, about the sixth 

 or seventh year. 



