INDICATIONS OF AGE. • 345 



each temporary tooth is an infundibulum, which is filled 

 with tartar or food. One-third of the cavity wears away 

 each year. A certain influence, however, is exerted over 

 the wearing of the teeth by the nature of the food., and ac- 

 cording as the food is of a hard or a soft character do the 

 cavities decrease rapidly or slowly. The young tooth is 

 broadest from side to side, the tooth of old age being 

 broadest from before backward, and gradually grows nar- 

 rower from side to side. For racing, show purposes, etc., 

 foals take their age from January 1st. At birth there are 

 twelve temporary molars and four temporary incisors ; if 

 they are not up at birth, they usually appear by the four- 

 teenth day. The lateral incisors appear from the sixth to 

 the ninth week of the colt's age, and at an age varying from 

 eight months to a year, the corner incisors make their 

 appearance. The first permanent molar, the fourth in the jaw, 

 makes its appearance when the colt is about one year old ; 

 hence the colt at one year old has twelve temporary 

 incisors, twelve temporary molars, and four permanent 

 molars. Between the ages of one and two years the incisors 

 remain the same in their arrangement, but wear down to a 

 considerable extent ; when the colt is about eighteen months 

 old the second permanent molar, the fifth in the jaw, 

 makes its appearance, and is up and in wear when the colt 

 is two years of age. 



When the colt is about two years and six months old the 

 gums around the incisors begin to get full and round. In 

 about three months afterwards the central temporary in- 

 cisors fall out, and are replaced by permanent incisors, which 

 are up and in wear when the colt is three years of age. 

 At the age of two years and six mouths appear two more 

 permanent molars, the first and second in the jaw. Hence 

 at this time the colt has eight temporary incisors, four per- 

 manent incisors, and twenty molars, sixteen of which are 



