CHAPTER III 

 The Teeth As An Indication of Age 



When a colt is born the first and second tem- 

 porary molars, three on each jaw, are to be seen. 

 These are large when compared with the size of 

 those that later replace them. In from five to ten 

 days after birth the two central incisors or nippers 

 make their appearance. In three or four weeks the 

 third temporary molars appear, followed within a 

 couple of months by an additional incisor on each 

 side of the first two, both above and below. The 

 corner incisors appear between the ninth and 

 twelfth months after birth. This makes the full 

 set of teeth — twenty-four in number. 



There is now no change in number, although there 

 is considerable change taking place all the time ; the 

 incisor teeth, in rubbing against each other, are 

 more or less worn, giving rise to the expression 

 " losing the mark." 



The two molars present at birth remain until 

 the animal is about three years old, at which time 

 they fall out of their sockets by the protrusion of 

 the second set, or permanent molars. 



This change from temporary to permanent teeth 

 takes place usually without difficulty and without 

 trouble. The permanent teeth push their way up 

 from below crowding those in view. While this 

 pushing and crowding is going on the temporary 

 teeth are losing ground, for the reason their roots 

 are being absorbed, and a time comes when the cap 

 only is left attached to the gums. This cap drops 



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