THE PROCESS OF TEETHING. 



147 



if they have been well nursed and fed, and are strong and large, they may, with th« 

 inexperienced, have an additional year put upon them. The central nippers are 



punched or drawn out, and the others appear three 

 or four months earlier than they otherwise would. 

 In the natural process, they could only rise by long 

 pressing upon, and causing the absorption of, the 

 first set. But opposition from the first set being 

 removed, it is easy to imagine that their progress 

 will be more rapid. Three or four months will be 

 gained in the appearance of the teeth, and these 

 three or four months may enable the breeder to 

 term him a late colt of a preceding year. To him, 

 however, who is accustomed to horses, the general 

 form of the animal — the little developement of the 

 fore-hand — the continuance of the mark on the 

 next pair of nippers — its more evident existence in 

 the comer ones, some enlargement or irregularity 

 about the gums from the violence used in forcing 

 out the teeth — the small growth of the first and fifth grinders and the non-appearance 

 of the sixth grinder, which if it is not through the gum at three years old, is swelling 

 under it, and preparing to get through — any or all of these circumstances, carefully 

 attended to, will be a sufficient security against deception. 



A horse at three years old ought to have the central permanent nippers growing — 

 the other two pairs wasting — six grinders in each jaw, above and below — the first 

 and fifth level with the others, and the sixth protruding. The sharp edge of the new 

 incisors, although it could not be well expressed in the cut, will be very evident when 

 compared with the neighbouring teeth. 



As the permanent nippers wear, and continue to grow, a narrower portion of the 

 cone-shaped tooth is exposed to the attrition, and they look as if they had been com- 

 pressed, but it is not so. The mark, of course, gradually disappears as the pit is 

 worn away. 



At three years and a half, or between that and four, the next pair of nippers will 

 be changed, and the mouth at that time cannot be mistaken. The central nippers 

 will have attained nearly their full growth. A vacuity will be left wliere the second 

 stood, or they will begin to peep above the gum, and the corner ones will be diminished 



in breadth, worn down, and the mark becoming 

 small and faint. At this period, likewise, the 

 second pair of grinders wall be shed. Previously 

 to this may be the attempt of the dealer to give 

 to his threc-years-old an additional year, but the 

 fraud will be detected by an examination similar 

 to that which has been already described. 



At four years, the central nippers will be fully 

 developed; the sharp edge somewhat worn off 

 and the mark shorter, wider, and fainter. The 

 next pair will be up, but they will be small, with 

 the mark deep, and extending quite across them. 

 The corner nippers will be larijer than the inside 

 ones, yet smaller than they were, and flat, and 

 the mark nearly effaced. The sixth grinder will 

 have risen to a level with the others, and the tushes will begin to appear. 



Now, more than at any other time, will the dealer be anxious to put an additional 

 year upon the animal, for the difference between a four-years-old colt, and a five-years- 

 old horse, in strength, utility, and value, is very great; but, the want of wear in the 

 other nippers — the small size of the corner ones — the little growth of the tush — the 

 smallness of the second grinder — the low fore-hand — the legginess of the colt, and 

 the thickness and little depth of the mouth, will, to the man of common expeiience 

 among horses, at once detect the cheat. 



The tushes (see p. 142) are four in number, two in each jaw. situated between the 

 nippers and the grinders — much nearer to the former than the latter, and nearer in the 



