BISHOPING. 153 



matic in origin. When such an irregularity is seen, the ob- 

 liquity of the teeth in the curve of the incisive arch, a comparison 

 of the two incisive arches (for frequently the deception has only 

 been practiced on the lower teeth), and a comparison of the 

 worn tables of the pinchers with the fresh edges of the others 

 will be sufficient to show the fraudulent interference which has 

 been executed. There are frequently cicatrices, showing the 

 forcible removal of the teeth. 



De Curnieu questions that the drawing of the temporary 

 teeth hastens the eruption of the permanent ones ; but Mayhew 

 maintains the contrary, with which my own experience coincides. 

 Mayhew says they can be hastened by the application of a hpt 

 iron to the gums. The question was put to a large number of 

 breeders by MM. Goubaux and Barrier, and was answered, by 

 all but one, in support of the opinion that the eruption of the 

 permanent teeth is hastened by the removal of the milk-teeth. 



BISHOPING. 



Bishoping is a method employed by gyps to alter the ap- 

 pearance of the incisors, which can only deceive buyers who are 

 entirely ignorant of the horse's mouth. 



The crowns of the incisors of the young horse are wide from 

 side to side ; the dental tables are modified as the animal becomes 

 older, and become successively oval, rounded, and triangular ; 

 the cups at first occupy the whole table, and are usually filled 

 with dark-colored cement or black foreign matter ; they gradually 

 diminish in size, approach the posterior border of the teeth, and 

 then disappear. In the centre of the table the dental star appears. 



Bishoping consists in giving to the tables an artificial cvip 

 of a dark color. The teeth usually are first filed even ; each 

 table is then gouged out until somewhat concave, and the new 

 cup is then blackened, either by nitrate of silver or by a point 

 of white-hot iron. It is only practiced on the lower incisors. 



Bishoping is readily recognized on a proper examination ; 

 as, with the shortened lower teeth, the tables of the two incisive 

 arches usually do not correspond (Figs. 157 and 158), and the 



