65 

 this has, by attrition, been rendered somewhat flat, 

 so as to present a surface upon, or against which the 

 food can be ground that the permanent molar of 

 the lower jaw is uncovered. The unevenness of the 

 grinding agent becomes now of less moment, since 

 the part over which it is to be moved has been ren- 

 dered fit for its uses, and since there are other teeth 

 that present all their surfaces, suited for the purposes 

 of mastication. 



34. The manner of examining the teeth is simple 

 enough, and yet a few remarks may as well be made 

 upon this part of the subject. To see the incisors, 

 all that is necessary is to part the lips; but many 

 horses are naturally shy when their mouths are 

 touched, and more are rendered so by unnecessary 

 severity in the administration of medicine, or by the 

 tricks to which they may have been subjected. A 

 certain degree of caution is always needed when an 

 animal is strange to the examiner. Where the 

 horse shows a disposition to resist, the groom vvho 

 attends upon it, if present, should be allowed to 

 handle the mouth, the judge being content to look 

 and form his opinion from what he sees. If the 



