THE TEETH. 



141 



Tliis cut will represent a three year- 

 old mouth. The central teeth are larger 

 than the others, with two grooves in the 

 outer convex surface, and the mark is 

 long, narrow, deep and black ; and not 

 having yet attained their full growth, 

 they are not so high as the others. The 

 mark in the two next nippers is nearly 

 worn out, and it is wearing away in 

 the corner nippers. Is it possible to 

 give this mouth to an early two-year- 

 old ? The ages of all horses are reckoned 

 from May, but some are foaled even so 

 early as January, and being actually four 

 months over the two years, if they have been well nursed and fed, and are 

 strong and large, they may, with the inexperienced, have an additional year 

 put upon them. The central nippers are punched or drawn out, and the 

 others appear three or four months earlier than they otherwise would. In 

 the natural process, they could only rise by long pressing upon, and 

 causing the absorption of the first set. The first set mechanically oppose 

 their rising, and that opposition being removed, it is reasonable to imagine 

 that their progress will be more rapid. Three or four months will be 

 gained, and these three or four months may enable the breeder to term him 

 a late colt of a preceding year. To him, however, who is accustomed to 

 horses, (although it is long practice alone which could give this facility of 

 judgment,) the general form of the animal, the little development of the 

 forehand, the continuance of the mark on the next pair of nippers, its more 

 evident existence in the corner ones, some enlargement or irregularity 

 about the gums from the violence used in forcing out the teeth, the small 

 growth of the first and fifth grinders, and the non-appearance of the sixth 

 grinder, which if it is not through the gum at three years old, is swelling 

 under it, and preyjaring to get through, any or all of these circumstances, 

 carefully attended to, will be a sufficient security against deception, 



It is so unusual to look at the teeth in the upper jaw of a young horse, 

 that the dealer who wishes to give a false appearance of age, frequently 

 confines his operation to the lower jaw, and, in consequence of this, when 

 the teeth of the lower jaw are thus made to push out, they are still below 

 the gum in the upper jaw, although, in the natural process, they are cut a 

 little sooner in the upper than in the lower jaw. It may, therefore, be 

 good policy always to examine both jaws. 



A horse then at three years old ought to have the central permanent 

 nippers growing — the other two pairs wasting — six grinders in each jaw, 

 above and below — the first and fifth molars level with the others, and the 

 sixth protruding. The sharp edge of the new incisors, although it could 

 not be well expressed in our cut, will be very evident when compared with 

 the neighbouring teeth. 



As the permanent nippers grow, and press upon the teeth at their side, 

 those teeth will begin gradually to diminish. Not only will the mark 

 be wearing out, but the crowns of the teeth will be considerably smaller. 



At three years and a half, or between that and four, the next pair of 

 nippers will be changed, and the mouth at that time cannot be mistaken. 

 The central nippers will have attained nearly their full growth ; a vacuity 

 will be left where the second stood, or they will begin to peep above the 

 gum, — and the corner ones will be diminished in breadth — worn down — 



