212 DISEASES OF HOUSES. 



serve as a guide to the age, when the horse is suspected to be 

 bishoped, as it is called, from a man of that name who was peculiarly 

 dexterous in imitating on old teeth the distinctive cavity of youth. 

 The molar or grinding teeth are stronger in the upper than in the 

 lower jaw ; which was necessary, as they form the fixed point in 

 the process of grinding. The upper surface presents nearly a long 

 square, indented from the alteration of the enamel with the bony 

 portions ; and as the interior or upper teeth hang over the posterior, 

 so the ridges of the one set are received into the depressions of the 

 other. 



Wear of the teeth. The teeth, in a state of nature, would probably 

 present a surface opposed to each other for mastication to the latest 

 period of the most practised life ; but the removal of the animal 

 from moist food to that which is hard and dry, must occasion an 

 unnatural wear in those organs ; and hence, although the teeth of 

 the horse, even in a domesticated state, are not subject to the caries 

 of the human ; yet the grinders are liable to become thus injured 

 by continued exertion. In the young or adult horse, the upper and 

 under grinders do not meet each other horizontally ; on the con- 

 trary, they have naturally an inclination obliquely inwards, and 

 those of the upper jaw present small spaces between each other, 

 while those of the lower are more continuous : by which means as 

 the food, but particularly as interrupted portions, as grain, become 

 ground, they fall into the mouth to be replaced under the grinding 

 surface, if necessary, by the joint action of the tongue and muscles 

 of the cheek. This arrangement becomes in a great measure frus- 

 trated in old horses, by the superior wear of the inner surface of 

 the upper grinders, as well as by the general misapplication of the 

 surfaces of both upper and under teeth, by constant attrition when 

 worn down to the gums nearly. The unfortunate animal feels 

 sensible of this, and endeavours to remedy it by throwing the wear 

 on the outer edge, by an inclination of the lower jaw and of the 

 head in general ; and which is so particular in its appearance as to 

 engage the attention of the by-standers. This defect may be in a 

 considerable degree remedied by casting the animal, and having 

 opened and wedged the mouth so as to keep it so, with a well tem- 

 pered concave file to i-emove the inequality as much as may be. 

 When the defect is considerable, and the horse is mild and quiet, it 

 is better to file the inequalities every day, which will gradually but 

 effectually wear them down. It however happens, that the inclina- 

 tion thus to wear is commonly resumed, and gradually the same 

 loss of nutriment takes place ; in which case, soft moist food, as 

 carrots, mashes, soiling, or grazing, must be substituted for harder 



