344 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



nent. The temporary teeth are those peculiar to the young 

 animal ; they are twenty-four in number, twelve molars and 

 twelve incisors. The permanent teeth are forty in number, con- 

 sisting of twenty- four molars, twelve incisors, and four canine 

 teeth ; the latter being rarely developed in the mare. On 

 the table surfaces of the incisor teeth exist cavities known as 

 infundibulse, and these cavities form the principal means of 

 arriving at a knowledge of the animal's age. Around each 

 infundibulum there is a well-marked ring or circle of enamel. 

 As the animal advances in age, the teeth w^ear down and 

 become somewhat straighter. The temporary teeth are 

 readily recognisable by their small size, their well-marked 

 neck, and extreme whiteness ; the permanent teeth are 

 distinguished by being darker in colour, the absence of any 

 well-marked neck, and their greater size. On the anterior 

 aspect of each of the permanent incisors of the lower jaw 

 there is a well-marked groove to be seen ; the incisors of 

 the upper jaw each possess two of these grooves. The mouth 

 of a two-year-old horse is very similar to that of a five-year- 

 old, the only difference being in the size and colour, presence 

 or absence of grooves, etc., the absence of the canine teeth in 

 the two-year-old mouth and their presence in the mouth of the 

 five-year-old male animal. In the centre of a very old tooth 

 may be seen a little mark just posterior to the infundibulum ; 

 this is known as the dental star. The cutting of the teeth 

 varies to a slight extent ; the foal has generally at birth 

 twelve molars, and frequently four incisors. If the central 

 incisors are not present at birth they appear in a couple of 

 weeks. If the foal is carried over time they are present at 

 birth; but if born before time they are absent. At an 

 age varying from six to nine weeks the lateral incisors 

 appear, at the age of nine months the corner incisors 

 appear, and at the age of one year all of the incisors are 

 in wear. As in the permanent tooth, so in the centre of 



