2-24 



THE PROCESS OF TEETIIIXG. 





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At two years this will be more manifest. The accompanying- cut 



deserves attention, as giving an accurate 

 -y representation of the nippers in the lower 



"^ jaw of the two-years-old colt. 



"^\ About this period a fifth grinder will 



I appear, and now, likewise, will com- 

 mence another process. The first teeth 

 are adapted to the size and wants of the 

 young animal. They are sufficiently 

 large to occupy and fill the colt's jaws ; 

 but when these bones have expanded 

 with the increasing growth of the animal, 

 the teeth are separated too far from each 

 other to be useful, and another and larger 

 set is required. Evident provision is 

 made for them, even before the colt is 

 foaled. In cavities in the jaw, beneath 

 the first and temporary teeth, are to be 

 seen the rudiments of a second and permanent set. These gradually 

 increase, some with greater rapidity than others, and, pressing vipon the 

 roots or fangs of the first teeth, do not, as would be imagined, force out 

 the former ones, but the portion pressed upon gradually disappears. It is 

 absorbed — taken up, and carried away, by numerous minute vessels, whose 

 office it is to get rid of the worn-out or useless part of the system. This 

 absorption continues to proceed as the second teeth grow and press 

 upwards, until the whole of the fang is gone, and the crown of the tooth, 

 or that part of it which was above the gum, having no longer firm hold, 

 drops out, and the second teeth appear, larger and stronger and permanent. 

 In a few instances, however, the second teeth do not rise immediately vinder 

 the temporary or milk teeth, but somewhat by their side ; and then, instead 

 of this gradiaal process of absorption and disappearance from the point of 

 the root upwards, the root being compressed sideways, diminishes through- 

 out its whole bulk. The crown of the tooth diminishes with the root, and 

 the whole is pushed ou.t of its place, to the fore part of the first grinder, and 

 remains for a considerable time under the name of a xvolfs tooth, caus- 

 ing swelling and soreness of the gums, and frequently wounding the 

 cheeks. They would be gradually quite absorbed, but the process might be 

 slow and the annoyance would be great, and, therefore, they are extracted. 



The change of the teeth commences in those which earliest appeared, 

 and, therefore, the front or first grinder gives way at the age of two years, 

 and is succeeded by a larger and permanent tooth. 



During the period between the fiilling out of the central milk nippers, 

 and the coming up of the permanent ones, the colt, having a broken 

 mouth, may find some difficulty in grazing. If he should fall away con- 

 siderably in condition, he should be fed with mashes and corn, or cut meat. 

 The next exit will represent a- three-years-old mouth. The central teeth 

 are larger than the others, with two grooves in the outer convex surface, 

 and the mark is long, narrow, deep and black. Not having yet attained 

 their full growth, they are rather lower than the others. The mark in 

 the two next nippers is nearly worn out, and it is wearing away in the 

 coT'ner nippers. Is it possible to give this mouth to an early two-years-old? 

 The age of all horses used to be reckoned from May, but some are foaled 

 even so early as January, and being actually four months over the two 

 years, if they have been well nursed and fed, and are strong and large, 

 they may, with the inexperienced, have an additional year put upon them. 

 The central nippers ai-e punched or drawn out, and the others appear three 

 or four mouths earlier than tluy otherwise would. In the natural ])r()(>ess 



