498 HISTORY OF 



between tliem is very striking.f They biive both a similar 

 outline in the external parts ; the same conformation within. 

 One would be led, from the great resemblance there is between 

 them, to suppose them of the same species ; and that the ass 



Pembroke) ought to be inflicted on all those who clap shoes on hot. This un. 

 pardonable laziness of farriers, in making feet thus to fit shoes, instead of shoes 

 to fit the feet, dries up the hoofs, and utterly destroys tliem." It is of the most 

 ruinous consequence, hardening and cracking the hoofs, and inducing even 

 the most fatal disorders. The joints, the wind, and the eyes, are injured by 

 it ; and the gross humours which naturally descend to the feet, and ought to 

 be carried oif by insensible perspiration, are detained by the hardness of the 

 surface they have to penetrate. 



The stomach of horses is small, and at the cardia there is a little valve 

 which renders them incapable of vomiting. Their natural diseases are few; 

 but our ill usage or neglect, or, which is very frequent, our over care of 

 them, bring on a numerous train, which are often fatal. They sleep but 

 little, and this in general on their legs. If properly treated, they will live 

 forty or fifty years. 



There are various ways of judging of the age of a horse. The following 

 are the most general : — The eye-pits of old horses are commonly hollow : but 

 that mark is equivocal, young horses begot by old stalliims having them also 

 hollow. The teeth afford the best criterion of the age of horses. The horse 

 has in all forty teeth, viz. twenty-four grinders, foxiT canine teeth, or tusks, 

 and twelve fore-teeth : mares have either no tusks, or very short ones ; five 

 days after birth four teeth in front begin to shoot ; these are called nippers, 

 and are cast at the age of two years and a half. — They are soon renewed ; 

 und the next year he again casts two above and two below, one on each side 

 of the nippers. At four years and a half, other four fall out, next those last 

 placed ; these last four foal teeth are succeeded by other four, which grow 

 much more slowly than the first eight; and it is from these last four corner 

 teeth, that the age of a horse is distiuguished ; they are somewhat hollow 

 in the iniddle, and liave a black mark in the cavities. At five years these teeth 

 scarcely rise above the gtims ; at six, their cavities begin to fill up, and turn 

 to a brownish spot, like the eye of a garden bean ; and before eight years the 

 mark generally disappears. The tusks generally indicate the age of a horse. 

 Those in the under jaw generally shoot at the age of three years and a half; 

 and the two in the upper jaw at four : till six, they continue sharp at the 

 points ; but at ten, they appear long and blunt. These are the general rules 

 for ascertaining the age of a horse ; but there are frequent exceptions, as 

 jome horses retain the mark two or three years longer. 



But the unwary are often taken in with regard to the age of a horse, by a 

 diabolical practice among many dealers called Bishoping. — It is an operation 

 performed upon the teeth of a horse, and supposed to have derived its modern 

 appellation from an emivent and distinguished dealer of the name of Bisliop j 

 whether from any peculiar neatness in, or reputed celebrity for, a personal 

 performance of the deception, it is most probably not possible, or necessary, 

 to ascertain- The purport of the operation is to furnish horses of ten or 

 twelve years old with a regeneration of teeth, bearing the appearance of five 

 or six; and is thus performed :— The horse being powerfully twitched by 



