738 EXAMINATION FOR AGE. 



those whose groAvth has been stimulated by corn. Also, Aristotle 

 tells us that the life of stabled horses is much shorter than 

 that of wild ones; and that mares live longer than stallions, 

 which statement is corroborated by Hartmann. " Stallions, I 

 understand from good authorities, do not live so long as cut 

 horses, notwithstanding that the cut horse is cut for the very 

 purpose generally of exjDosing it to hard work and toil and in- 

 juries of many kinds " (P. T. Alexander). 



Means of Ascertaining a Horse's Age. 



I i^rojDose in this chapter to limit the consideration of the 

 animal's age to the indications furnished by his teeth. Although 

 these indications vary a good deal, they are sufficiently reliable 

 for practical requirements. We may also determine whether a 

 horse is old or young, by his general appearance; by the fact 

 that the bones on each side of his nose " fall in," on account of 

 the descent of the back teeth, as he gets older; and, in the case 

 of a g^Qj or roan, by the whitening of his coat. Almost all 

 horses when well stricken in years, show white hairs, especially 

 about the temples. The depth of the hollows above the eyes 

 are, to a certain extent, a guide to the age of the animal; al- 

 though these hollows may be prematurely deep in the stock of 

 old parents, and possibly, in young horses which have suffered 

 for a considerable time from debility. The curly condition of 

 the tail seen in foals and yearlings, proves their youthfulness. 

 These indications, except the last mentioned one, are too vague 

 to be considered; unless we are unable to examine the mouth. 



Parts of a Tooth. 



The portion of a tooth which is outside the gum, is called the 

 crown ; the portion within the gum, the root ; and the line of 

 union between the crown and root, is termed the nech The 

 grinding surface of a tooth is called the table. 



Different Kinds of Teeth. 



A horse's teeth (Fig. 194) are divided into: incisors (front 

 teeth or nippers) ; canine teeth (tushes) ; and hack teeth, which 

 consist of idremolars and molars. The canine teeth occupy an 

 isolated position between the incisors and back teeth, both of 

 which are, respectively, close to each other. In the lower jaw, 

 the canines are nearer to the incisors than in the upper jaw. The 

 interval between the canines and the back teeth is called the 



