OBSERVATIONS. 27 



Much multifarious matter has constantly 

 been introduced relative to the age of a horse 

 by his mouth ; where (after all observations 

 upon the subject) it becomes an acknowledged 

 fact by every writer, each sig^i is doubtful, 

 and habie to deception in the various arts 

 and designs of the dealers, who, by engraving 

 and burning artificial marks in some teeth, 

 and totally extracting (or beating out) others, 

 render the horse of any seeming age most ap- 

 plicable to their purpose. And these faults 

 cannot be easily discovered but by grooms or 

 judges who are in the constant habit and prac- 

 tice of making such remarks and observations. 



Nor is there any matter in a horse requir- 

 ing a nicer discrimination in judgment, than 

 to ascertain to a certainty the age of a horse 

 by his teeth only, having absolutely seen two 

 men of abilities and experience on the oppo- 

 site sides of a horse's mouth, at the same time 

 declare him of different ages ; when, by ex- 

 changing sides each changed his opinion, 

 and the horse proved, by the common rule, 

 to be coming a year older on one side than 

 the other. 'I'hese doubts in respect to tlie 

 certainty of age being admitted, one fixed 



