Horse^s Teeth 



55 



a colt becomes a horse and a filly becomes a mare. 

 The temporary teeth are usually shed easily; the per- 

 manent teeth pushing up from below cause the roots of 

 the temporary ones to be absorbed, until they finally 

 become mere" caps," 

 attached to the gum. 

 Sometimes the tem- 

 porary corner in- 

 cisors are extracted 

 in order to make a 

 colt or a filly appear 

 older than it is. 

 Such a practice is not 

 to be commended. 



When the perma- 

 nent incisors are first 

 erupted, well-defined 

 "date -cavities" exist 

 in their upper sur- 

 faces. These cavi- 

 ties, dark brown or 

 black in color, nar- 

 row from before back 

 and wide from side to 

 side, extend quite a 

 depth into the tooth. Each date -cavity is surrounded 

 by a very narrow band of enamel, which can be 

 distinguished from the yellower dentine that com- 

 poses most of the substance of the tooth. The date- 

 cavities wear out and disappear from the lower incisors 

 at the followine: ages: From the lower central incisors 



Fig. 20. Horse's teeth at seven years of age 



