DENTITION AND AGE AS SHOWN BY TEETH, ETC. 



301 



In horse parlance, the incisors, or front teeth, are called 

 nippers, the canine teeth tushes, and the molars grinders. 



To be able to determine the age of a horse within a few 

 months during the period of his greatest usefulness is an object 

 of much interest to every one dealing in them. . To be an ex- 

 pert in this matter is of great importance to the successful pur- 

 chaser. Many a man has been the victim of unprincipled 

 jockeys, and has purchased a "doctored" old horse, almost 

 worthless, for a splendid young animal ; and thus has he not 

 only been swindled out of his money, but laughed at by his 

 neighbors only for his ignorance of a few simple points to be 

 observed to enable any man of common-sense to tell the age of 

 a horse with approximate certainty. In treating of this sub- 

 ject it will be necessary to describe the successive change the 

 mouth undergoes up to the age at which the changes become 

 obscure and uncertain, which, quite fortunately, is beyond the 

 period of his highest value and usefulness. Ignoring the 

 cutting and changes in the teeth of the foal during its first 

 year, as such cannot interfere with its 

 commercial value, we will describe the 

 mouth of the colt at one year. See Cut 

 No. 1. 



The four middle teeth have now be- 

 come level with each other, and the third 

 pair, or corner ones, are approaching 

 the level of the others. They will be 

 found to present, respectively, the fol- 

 lowing appearance : In the front pair, or two middle teeth, the 

 center mark is worn, becoming somewhat dim, but broad and 

 regular, with a ring of enamel of regular width, but thicker in 

 front than behind, surrounding it. This mark is partially worn 

 out of the next two, or second pair, but is darker, longer, and 

 narrower than in the first, and the ring of enamel surrounding 

 it is not quite so regular. In the corner teeth the mark is of 

 full depth, darker, longer, and narrower than in either of the 

 others, the ring of enamel being heavier and more irregular. 



