22 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 
incisors should come into exact apposition; “parrot 
mouth,” produced by the upper teeth overhanging the 
lower, although not an unsoundness, is unsightly. | 
Should these teeth be in perfect apposition, and their 
edges worn and broken, it may be from “crib-biting,” 
or from feeding out of an iron or stone manger. On 
finding this condition, you will have to trace its cause. 
Old horses frequently have the edges of the incisors 
worn and chipped; but you must inquire about the 
material of the manger, unless you find, besides the 
worn teeth, the marks of a cribbing strap that has been 
worn. The molar teeth we too frequently fail to ex- 
amine, though, as you have already seen, irregularity 
in these is frequent, and sometimes interferes with the 
horse’s feeding. The gums between the incisors and 
molars are to be looked at for evidences of injury by 
the bit. If the marks are old cicatrices, and alike on 
either jaw, the horse may be a “puller;” or if con- 
fined to one side, it is very likely he has that very 
objectionable mouth, ‘“‘hard,’’ on one side. Either 
condition, if exaggerated, amounts to a dangerous vice, 
and is therefore an unsoundness. The tongue you 
can seldom object to. 
You next pass your right hand beneath the jaws. 
The intermaxillary space should be a hollow in which 
you can lay your hand. We frequently meet this space 
. filled up, so that its surface is flush, or nearly so, 
with the under surface of the jaw. This latter condi- 
tion is usually due to a severe attack of strangles, or 
