362 THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



At about tile eighth year the upper nippers present the same appear- 

 ance as already described in the lower nippers at six years old. Both tushes 

 are considerably -worn away at their points, and the upper ones more so 

 than the lower. 



At nine years of age the upper middle nippers are worn down com- 

 pletely. The next pair have a slight mark left, but their surfaces are quite 

 level, and the corner nippers have only a black stain, without any central 

 depression. 



After nixe years the age of the horse can only be guessed at from his 

 teeth, which gradually grow in length, and are more in a line ^vith the jaw. 



Fin. 9.— Lower Nippers and Toshes at Fi^t: Years Old. 



1. 1. Central nippers, with their marks almost 3. 3. Comer nippers, with the mark plainly seen, 



entirely worn out. but the edges partially worn. 



2. 2. Next nippers, showing marks partially 4. 4. Tushes, with the grooves inside almost 



worn. obliterated. 



The section of each nipper presented to the eye becomes more and more 

 triangular instead of being oval, as seen in Figs. 10 and 11 ; but after about 

 the twelfth year the triangular section disappears, and the tooth becomes 

 nearly round. In accordance with the increase of length is the colour of the 

 tooth altered, being of a dirty yellow in very old horses, with occasional 

 streaks of bro^vn and black. The tushes wear down to a very small size, 

 and very often one or both di'op out. 



Allusion has already been made to the practice of removing the milk 

 nippers for the purpose of inducing a more rapid growth of the next set, 

 which, however, is not materially affected by the operation, but dishonest 

 dealers have recourse to another deception, called bishoping, by which an 



