2 34 VETERINARY LECTURES 



and even death. By the casting or shedding of the crowns of the 

 temporary, and their replacement by the permanent teeth, together 

 with certain marks, the age of an animal for a time is indicated. 

 Looking at Plate XXVI., it will be noticed that at birth (i) the 

 foal generally has two central incisors, and three premolars on each 

 side, above and below (f , -f, sixteen in all), and all of them are 

 temporary. At six to eight weeks old (2) it gets two lateral 

 temporary incisors, above and below ; and from eight to ten 

 months (3) the corner incisors. From twelve months to two years 

 of age small ponies are sometimes passed off as five-year-olds, more 

 particularly coal-pit ponies, the marks on the crowns being similar. 

 This deception can, however, be detected by looking at the front 

 aspect of the teeth, when it will be seen that the temporary teeth are 

 small and white, with a plain smooth surface, while the permanent 

 teeth are much larger and broader, and of a creamy tinge, with a 

 well-defined deep dark groove down the front of each tooth. At 

 one year (4) the fourth tooth or first molar (first permanent) appears, 

 and from two to two and a half years (5) the fifth tooth, or 

 second molar, should be into wear ; and it is to this period of the 

 animal's life I shall give most attention. In many cases in cross- 

 bred cart-horses, the fifth molar is not visible until the animal is 

 from two and a half to three years old, From two years and 

 nine months till three years old (6) the horse commences to 

 cast the two central incisors, also the first and second premolars, 

 above and below, and these are replaced by permanent teeth. By 

 this it will be seen that in some cases— and it is a matter of great 

 importance— the horse rising three years old not only casts twelve tem- 

 porary, but gets sixteen permanent teeth— viz., four central incisors, 

 two above and two below (f ) ; eight first and second premolars, two 

 on each side, above and below ($) ; also the fifth tooth or second 

 molar, one on each side, above and below (f) (Plate XXV I II.). 



349. About this time in its dentition the animal is usually brought 

 in from grass and put to work. What with the dental irritation 

 going on and the new mode of living, is there any wonder that 

 certain horses of peculiar nervous temperament suffer, and occasion- 



