THE CARRIAGE-HORSE. 69 



has disappeared from the centre teeth, is but faintly visible in 

 the two next, and only distinct in the corner teeth, and at nine the 

 marks are not to be depended upon at all. It should be borne 

 in mind that crib-biters will wear their teeth down at an earlier 

 age than others, while horses which feed on grass and soft food 

 will often retain the marks twelve months longer than corn-fed 

 horses. After the age of nine a purchaser must judge by the 

 increasing length of the teeth and the increasing angle which 

 they form with the jaw. Formerly, the practice of making 

 artificial marks, or 'bishoping,' was not uncommon amongst 

 dealers, but it is now becoming less prevalent. When such a 

 one is brought into the yard of the Veterinary College, it is re- 

 garded as quite an event by the students. The process is 

 performed by filing the edges of the incisors to the required 

 length, rasping the surface to whiten and cleanse them, and 

 then rubbing them down with sandpaper to render them 

 smooth ; after which the concave holes in the incisors are made 

 with a sharp engraving tool, and carefully burnt with a hot 

 iron so as to leave no stains round the edges. But no process 

 has yet been discovered which can restore the lining of enamel 

 with which the tooth in all its sinuosities ought to be, and is, 

 covered by nature. Other tricks have been resorted to to 

 disguise the age, such as puffing out with wind the deep holes 

 that come over the eyes of old horses, thoroughly washing and 

 neatly painting any grey hairs with indian ink in a dark-coloured 

 horse. With these precautions, and by suddenly bringing a 

 horse from a dark stall into a bright light, an appearance of 

 youth, fire, and vigour may be given by which the unwary 

 may be deceived. 



Horses for quiet harness -work will often last up to twenty- 

 years of age, and even more ; but when they cease to be useful for 

 the most moderate work, it is no true kindness to allow them to 

 live on, with mouths unfit to perform the work of mastication, 

 suffering perhaps from lameness or affection of the wind ; it is 

 more merciful to put such an animal to a humane death. 



Horses are now seldom used for travelling, except in the 



