PROCESS OF TEETHING. 



125 



Fiar. 20. 



prinder, which if it is not through the gum at three years old, is 

 swelling under it, and preparing to get through — any or all of 

 these circumstances, carefully attended to, will be a sufficient 

 security against deception. 



A horse at three years old ought to have the central perma- 

 nent nippers growing — the other two pairs wasting — six grind- 

 ers in each jaw, above and below — the first and fifth level with 

 the others, and the sixth protruding. The sharp edge of the 

 new incisors, although it could not be well expressed in the cut, 

 will be very evident when compared with the neighboring teeth. 



As the permanent nippers wear, and continue to grow, a nar- 

 rower portion of the cone-shaped tooth is exposed to the attrition, 

 and they look as if they had been compressed, but it is not so. 

 The mark, of course, gradually disappears as the pit is worn 

 away. 



At three years and a half, or between that and four, the next 

 pair of nippers will be changed, and the mouth at that time 

 cannot be mistaken. The central nippers will have attained 

 nearly their full growth. A vacuity will be left where the 

 second stood, or they will begin to peep above the gum, and the 

 corner ones will be diminished in breadth, worn down, and the 

 mark becoming small and 

 faint. At this period, like- 

 wise, the second pair of grind- 

 ers will be shed. Previously 

 to this may be the attempt of 

 the dealer to give to his three- 

 year-old an additional year, 

 but the fraud will be detected 

 by an examination similar to 

 that which has been already 

 described. 



At four years, the central 

 nippers will be fully devel- 

 oped ; the sharp edge some- 

 what worn off, and the mark 

 shorter, wider, and fainter. The next pair will be up, but they 

 will be small, with the mark deep, and extending quite across 

 them. The corner nippers will be larger than the inside ones, 

 yet smaller than they were, and flat, and the mark nearly 

 effaced. The sixth grinder will have risen to a level with the 

 others, and the tushes will begin to appear. 



Now, more than at any other time, will the dealer be anxious 

 to put an additional year upon the animal, for the difference 

 between a four-years-old colt, and a five-years-old horse, in 

 strength, utility, and value, is very great; but, the want of 



