ERUPTION OF THE TEETH. 



641 



Eruption of the Molars in Particular. We knew already 

 that the opinions of Girard concerning the period of this eruption were, 

 contested by those veterinarians who had had occasion to examine 

 them ; hence we applied to one of our collaborators, Lecellier the elder, 

 veterinarian at Yvetot. This distinguished practitioner, who for a long 

 time has directed his attention to the dental apparatus of the horse, 

 has succeeded in ascertaining some facts of great importance. 



1st. Molars of the First Dentition. According to Girard, the first 

 two deciduous molars have generally pierced the gums at birth, or, at 

 the latest, from three to four days after ; as to the third, it should 

 always appear at the end of the first month. 



LeceUier 1 and Mayhew 2 assert, on the contrary, that these teeth all 

 exist at birth, and that they can serve for mastication at the end of 

 thirty or forty days. 



2d. Molars of Replacement and Persistent Molars. The observa- 

 tions of Girard, Lecellier, 'and Mayhew are not in accord upon this 

 point ; they differ especially as to the period of eruption of the sixth 

 molar. We have presented them in the following table : 



According to Lecellier, the inferior deciduous molars are constantly 

 shed before the superior, while the eruption of the permanent molars 

 takes place in both jaws at the same time. 



1 Lecellier pere, note communique^. 



2 Mayhew, loc. cit., pp. 69, 70, 71, 72, and 82. 



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