EXAMINATION OF THE MOUTH FOR AGE. 



77 



ones ; the last three are permanent, not being preceded 

 by milk teeth. The milk incisors may be distinguished 

 from the permanent ones by their being shorter and 

 whiter ; having a better defined " neck " (the part of 

 the tooth immediately above the gum) ; having their 

 exterior surface smooth, while that of the other has, 

 generally, a slight vertical groove; and from the fact 

 that the milk incisors gradually become shorter and 

 shorter, as soon as they come into wear; while the 

 opposite is the case with the permanent ones. With 

 the object of comparing their respective lengths and 

 shapes, we may refer to Figs. 7 and 8. 



Fig. 7. — A milk front incisor. A, roar view. B, front view. C, profile. 



I may mention that we may frequently find in the 

 mouths of foals, very small, pointed teeth, where the 

 tushes subsequently appear. Some writers look upon 

 them as rudimentary milk tushes. They are, however, 

 so insignificant in size that we may, practically speaking. 



