THE PROCESS OF TEETIIIXG. 



Thoy likewise appear to be large, and to fill the front of the month ; 

 although they \^^ll afterwards be found to be small, compared viith the 

 permanent teeth that follow. In the course of the first month the third 

 grinder appears above and below, and, not long after, and generally be- 

 fore six weeks have expired, another incisor above and below will be 

 seen on each side of the two first, which have now considerably grown, 

 but not attained their perfect height. This cut will represent the appear- 

 ance of the mouth at that time. 



At two months, the central nippei's will have reached their natural 

 level, and between the second and tliird month the second pair will have 

 overtaken them. They will then begin to wear 

 away a little, and the outer edge, which was at first 

 somewhat raised and sharp, is broiTght to a level 

 ■with the inner one, and so the mouth continues 

 until some time between the sixth and ninth month, 

 when another nipper begins to appear on each side 

 of the two first, making six above and below, 

 and completing the colt's mouth ; after which, 

 the only observable difference, imtil between the 

 second and third year, is in the wear of these 

 teeth. 



The term nipper is familiar to the horseman and 

 the farrier, and much better expresses the action of these teeth than the 

 word incisor or cutter, which is adopted by anatomists. Whoever has 

 observed a horse in the act of browsing, and the twitch of the head which 

 accompanies the separation of each portion of grass, will perceive that it. 

 is nipped or torn rather than cut oflP. 



These teeth are covered with a polished and exceedingly hard sub- 

 stance, called the enamel. It spreads over that portion of the teeth 

 which appears above the gum, and not only so, but as they are to be so 

 much employed in nipping the grass, and gathering up the animal's food, 

 and in such employment even this hard substance must be gradually worn 

 away, a portion of it, as it passes over the upper surface of the teeth, is 

 bent inward, and sunk into the body of the teeth, and forms a little pit in 

 them. The inside and bottom of this pit being blackened by the food, 

 constitutes the marlc of the teeth, by the gradual disappearance of which, 

 in consequence of the wearing down of the edge, we are enabled, for 

 several years, to judge of the age of the animal. 



The colt's nipping teeth are rounded in front, somewdiat hollow towards 

 the mouth, and present at first a cutting surface, with the outer edge 

 rising in a slanting direction above the inner edge. This, however, soon 

 beoins to wear doAvn ixntil both surfaces are level, and the marh, which 

 was originally long and narrow, becomes shorter, 

 and wider, and fainter. At six months the four 

 nippers are beginning to wear to a level. The an- 

 nexed cut will convey some idea of the appear- 

 ance of the teeth at twelve months. The four 

 middle teeth are almost level, and the corner ones 

 becoming so. The mark in the two middle teeth is 

 wide and faint ; in the two next teeth it is darker, 

 and longer, and narrower; and in the corner teeth 

 it is the darkest, and longest, and narrowest. 



The back teeth, or grinders, will not guldens 

 far in ascertaining the age of the animal, for we can- 

 not easily Inspect them ; bat there are some interesting particulars connected 

 with them. The foal is born with tAvo grinders in each jaw, above and below; 



