52 The Care of Animals 



curate method until the tenth or twelfth year. After 

 this period the general appearance of the teeth and the 

 bones of the head are relied upon in determining age. 

 In colts, the bones of the face and lower jaw have a 

 full, rounded appearance, because the roots of the teeth 

 extend far into the bone. The face graduall}^ becomes 

 more (concave on the sides, the lower jaw thinner from 

 si(Je to side, and the lower edge much sharper. The 

 hollows above the horse's eyes become deeper, and the 

 bones more prominent, due to the absorption of fat from 

 this region. Unscrupulous horse -jockeys sometimes 

 make a small incision through the skin and fill up this 

 depression by blowing it full of air. This practice is 

 commonly called "puffing the glims." It is a deception 

 that is easily recognized. As horses get older there is 

 a tendency for the hair to turn gray in the region of the 

 muzzle and the eyes, and there is a general appearance 

 of advancing age that is difficult to describe. 



THE TEETH OF THE HORSE 



In the mature horse's mouth, the teeth which are 

 used for biting the food are twelve in number, six 

 in each jaw. They are situated just within the lips, 

 and are called the incisors. The molars, or grinders, 

 are the large double teeth, wdiose function it is to mas- 

 ticate, or grind, the food. There are twenty -four of 

 these, six in each half of both upper and lower jaws. 

 In males, there is an extra tooth called the canine, or 

 "bridle" tooth on each half jaw, in the space between 

 the incisors and the molars. These are sometimes found 



