68 THE VETERINARY SCIENCE. 



four years the colt has a full set of permanent molars, consisting^ 

 of six on each side of each jaw, making- twenty-four in all. At 

 five years old he sheds the four remaining temporary incisors or- 

 front teeth, which are replaced by four permanent incisors, these 

 are known as the corner teeth. It is well to become familiar with 

 the time the colt sheds his diflferent teeth, for sometimes the caps 

 or shells of the teeth do not fall off when they should; these should 

 be watched, for they greatly interfere with the animal feeding and 

 should be removed by a pair of pincers. At five years of age the 

 canine or bridle teeth make their appearance, so at the age of five 

 years the colt has all his teeth or what is known as a full mouth. 



TABLE OF THE TEETH. 



Age. Incisors or Front Teeth. Molars or Grinders. 



Temporary or Permanpnt Temporary or permanent 



Milk Teeth. Permanent. ^j;,^ ^^^^^^ Permanent 



The foal at or soon after birth 4 12 



" nine weeks 8 12 



" nine months 12 12 



The colt at one year 12 12 4 



" two " 12 12 8 



«' three " 8 4 4 16 



four " 4 8 24 



five " 12 24 



At five years old he gets his bridle, or canine teeth, which are 

 four in number ; thus at the age of five years a horse has a full 

 mouth of teeth, numbering forty in all. 



How to tell the age of a horse by his teeth is fully explained 

 hereafter in this book in connection with examination for soundness 

 of horses. 



It is advisable for everyone to become familiar with the 

 anatomy, or structure of the horse, which has been explained in 

 very simple language, for the better the anatomy is understood 

 the easier diseases and treatments are to understand. 





