8 

 tainly not justifiable, since the mouth may possibly be 

 eccentric, or the judgment pronounced upon it may be 

 erroneous. The teeth in every horse case are of im- 

 portance. The suggestions to which they give rise 

 should not be disregarded ; yet at the same time no 

 opinion of a final kind should be based upon their 

 showing. The utmost that the inspection of the teeth 

 could warrant is a doubt, certainly a strong one, as 

 to the reported age of the animal. That doubt would 

 justify inquiry, and the teeth can substantiate no more 

 than the right to inquire. Some may be disposed to 

 think that such a right would not be worth pos- 

 sessing ; but it must be remembered, that until the 

 inquiry were ended, no decision as to the qualification 

 of the animal could be arrived at. A valid doubt 

 would have been created . Let the owner of the sus- 

 pected horse dispel it, or the party who is interested 

 to do so have time to seek the evidence which would 

 convert it into certainty. The umpire, on the showing 

 of the teeth, would be bound to withhold his judg- 

 ment, not called upon to decide. Were such the 

 rule, all fear of injustice would be guarded against ; 

 and as gentlemen connected with the turf cannot 

 endure suspicion, and are not very patient of delay^ 



