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EXAMINATION FOR AGE. 



Cornevin and Lesbre (" Trait6 de L'Age des Animaux Domes- 

 tiques ") state that the tushes very rarely come through the gum 

 before the age of four years ; are well in view at four and a half ; 

 and, at five years, are about the same length as the corner incisors. 

 Solleysel has pointed out that the tushes of the lower jaw nearly 

 always precede those of the upper jaw, by two or three months. 

 M. Constant has observed that the tushes of the lower jaw appear 

 at about the same time (51 to 52 months old) as the permanent 

 coriler incisors of the upper jaw ; and those of the upper jaw, at 

 about the same time (54 month's old) as the perrnanent corner 

 incisors of the lower jaw. 



At, or shortly after birth, the foal has twelve milk back teeth 

 (premolars) ; namely, three on each side of each jaw. These teeth 

 take up the positions that are subsequently occupied by the 2nd, 

 3rd and ith permanent premolars. 



According to Cornevin and Lesbre, "the dates of the eruption of 

 the permanent premolars are as follows: — 



The 1st molar appears at from 10 to 12 months ; the 2nd at 

 about 2 years ; and the 3rd, at about 4 years. As already stated, 

 the molars are not preceded by milk teeth. 



My experience is that the respective eruption of the lower molars 

 precedes that of the upper mola;rs, in a manner somewhat similar 

 to that of the permanent premolars. * 



Causes which may Hasten or Retard the 

 Appearance of the Permanent Teeth. 



It is generally considered, that thoroughbred horses and those 

 fed from an early age on " hard food," shed their milk-teeth 

 sooner than under-bred animals and those brought up on green 

 fodder. Some authorities are of opinion that neither breed nor 

 food has any influence in this respect. If this be the case, horses 

 differ therein from horned cattle ; for a two-year-old Shorthorn 

 wliich has been highly fed, shows as a rule, the same " mouth '' as 



