Diseases of the Mouth and Totigue. 5 1 



While the incisors are young they are flattened on their 

 sides, and bent somewhat backwards, and there is a decided 

 cavity, in which a pulpy substance is enclosed. This, how- 

 ever, is gradually contracted as the age of the dog increases. 



"M. F. Cuvier speaks of certain supernumerary teeth 

 occasionally developed in each of the jaws. There is much 

 irregularity accompaning them, and they have even been 

 supposed to have extended to seven or eight in number." — 

 Youatt. 



Thefollowing notes are extracted from Professor Simonds' 

 lecture on this subject : — " The dog, at birth, as a rule, has 

 no teeth, but if we examine the gums we may plainly see 

 the outline of them, and easily count the number, and the 

 same applies to the molars. When about one month old the 

 temporary teeth seem to be all complete, and cut through 

 the gums. After that period very little is to be observed 

 except the growth of them. In the course of a very fehort 

 time the temporary teeth may be observed giving way. It 

 is difficult to say which permanent ones come first, but he 

 (Professor Simonds), from his observations, believes the 

 corner incisors and tushes do so, and not unfrequently it is 

 the same with the temporary ones. The cutting of the 

 permanent teeth commences at the age of four months, and 

 at about six months the animal generally has them all, and 

 at eighteen months dentition is complete. Perhaps up to 

 about a year old there is not much difficulty in telling the 

 age of the dog. If properly kept the teeth will be sharp and 

 white, without wear, because if fed on soft food they would 

 be preserved much longer (.?) ; while on the other hand, if 

 the meal consists of bones and hard food, they will be worn 

 away much sooner, and seeing these things, we must judge 

 accordingly. At three years old, as a rule, they will present 

 a worn surface ; beyond this we have nothing more to guide 



us. . 



DECAYED TEETH. 



Sound teeth are essential to the comfort, health, and 



