DENTAL INDICATIONS OF AGE OF A HORSE I9I 



attachment in the gums, and finally fall out. It is 

 at this time the second period in the age of a horse 

 commences. 



The mark in the tooth is occasioned by the food 

 blackening the infundibulum or hollow pit which is 

 formed on their surface by the bending in of the 

 enamel, which passes over the surface of the teeth ; 

 and by the gradual wearing down of the enamel 

 from friction, and the consequent disappearance of 

 it, we are enabled for several years to judge of the 

 age of the animal. 



In the third year, the tushes sometimes begin 

 to make their appearance, although there are in- 

 stances of their not being developed until the fifth 

 or sixth year. But the most general time for their 

 appearing is in the fourth year. Little dependence 

 can, therefore, be placed on them in determining 

 the age of the horse. We have given a repre- 

 sentation of a three-year-old mouth (fig. 5), in which 

 it will be seen the central teeth are larger than the 

 others, and are provided with two grooves in the 

 outer convex surface. The mark is long, narrow, 

 deep, and black ; and these teeth, not having 

 attained their full growth, are somewhat lower than 

 the others. In the two next teeth the mark is 

 nearly Vv^orn out, and in the corner teeth it is slowly 

 disappearing. 



At this period it is not unusual for dishonest 

 dealers to deceive the unskilful with regard to the age 

 of a horse. If they happen to possess one that has 

 been foaled a little earlier than usual, probably in 

 January, and which may have acquired bulk and 

 strength, they punch or draw out the central 

 nippers, and the others appear some months earlier 

 than they otherwise would. This will allow the 



