THE HORSEANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 623 



from mismanagement in shoeing, causing mechanical injury, or 

 from inflammation of the secreting surface, which will end in 

 the formation of imperfect horn, or from punctures or other 

 wounds of the foot. Perhaps in no organ does an injury so 

 soon produce a return at compound interest, for the inevitable 

 result is a malformation of the hoof, and this only adds again 

 to the original mischief. Hence, it is that in the foot, more 

 than in any other part even, prevention is better than cure, for 

 in many of its diseases it happens that a cure can not be ob- 

 tained without rest; and yet it is also the fact that the secre- 

 tion of horn will not go on perfectly without the stimulus 

 afforded of necessity by exercise. The position of the leg is 

 such that its veins have a hard task to perform at all times in 

 returning the blood from the feet, but when the horse is not 

 exercised at all, they become doubly sluggish, and congestion 

 in them is almost sure to occur." 



The Mouth and Teeth. In the mouth the process of 

 digestion really begins. Here the food is ground and mixed 

 with saliva. That part of the mouth that will command our 

 attention is the teeth, as every horseman and buyer must know 

 certain things concerning them, that he may tell the age. The 

 lower jaw is somewhat narrower than the upper, but each con- 

 tains the same number of teeth, and in pairs. 



The teeth originate in the jaws and form little cells therein, 

 in each of which is a delicate bag of jelly-like substance. It 

 is there at time of birth, and in due time the jelly begins to 

 change to bony matter. Enamel and a cement are supplied as 

 the teeth begin to take form. 



The first teeth are called milk teeth, since they appear while 

 the colt depends mainly on milk for food. In course of time 

 they are superseded by permanent teeth. 



There are in each jaw six incisors, or nippers, two canines, 

 or tushes, and twelve molars, or grinders. Each is made up of 

 three distinct substances cement, enamel, and dentine. These 

 substances vary in texture, and by this varying quality the 

 teeth are not so brittle as if all enamel, and the unequal wearing 

 of the surface of each tooth makes a roughness similar to the 



