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5. For the security of the purchaser of a horse 

 not connected with the turf, the teeth are a sufficient 

 guard, and their indications, when properly under- 

 stood, may be confidently acted upon. This opinion 

 is put forth after a matured consideration of the sub- 

 ject, and probably there is no dealer who would dis- 

 sent from the decision at which the author has arrived. 

 The purchasers possibly may, on reflection, see less 

 reason to be satisfied, because the teeth would, 

 perhaps, in many instances, seem to favour the in- 

 terest opposed to theirs. Let the matter, however, 

 be deliberately weighed, and perhaps it may be found 

 that neither party is likely to gain considerably, or to 

 be seriously injured. In ordinary trade, the word of 

 the seller is not much regarded ; but in horse transac- 

 tions, the assertion of the dealer is never received. 

 One source of evidence is therefore discarded, and 

 some other must be sought. Now, where horses are 

 concerned, even the oaths of men appear to be of 

 little force ; " hard " swearing is expected in every 

 business of that nature, and such expectation almost 

 disqualifies all those persons to whose testimony the 

 dealer could appeal. Let it be remembered that it is 

 not the dealer who refuses to give evidence, or to 



