90 

 possessed of racing studs, should, from time to time, 

 have the mouths of their horses examined by ap- 

 proved members of the Royal College of Veterinary 

 Surgeons, that any irregularity of development may 

 be known and stated. To neglect so simple and 

 reasonable a precaution, is to incur a needless 

 hazard. By adopting it, the proprietor would be 

 prepared to meet objection ; and the idle reports that 

 every year get into circulation would be quashed at 

 their birth. A firmer basis for the authenticity of 

 the age would be established than the reputation 

 of the owner ; and gentlemen would not annually be 

 subjected to having their characters questioned by a 

 host of interested ignoramuses. The turf is bound 

 to adopt some measure of this kind for its own de- 

 fence, especially as the honour of its members is, 

 on every occasion, called into question, and a single 

 instance of suspicion, seems, in the public eye, to 

 warrant a general aspersion. 



46. When rising Jive years old all the horse teeth 

 are in the mouth, hut the corner teeth have yet to 

 meet. The peculiar sign of this particular age is the 

 loss of the corner temporary incisors. It is scarcely 



