CHsiPTEE V. 

 slFFECTIOjyS 



OP 



THE MOUTH :^JV0 TOJVGUE. 



The ESiuPTio^r of the Teeth. 



Tlie first or milk teeth of a puppy tiegiii to appear soon after birth, and 

 within a month the first process of dentition is completed. Tlie perma- 

 nent about the fourth month, begin to replace the temporary teeth, and 

 are usually through the gums before the eighth month. They are forty two 

 in number and the following is the recognized formula. — 



Upperiaw — Incisors 6 ; Canines 1 — 1 ; Molars 6 — 6=20 ) 



— } = 42 



Lowerjaw— „ 6; „ 1 — 1; „ 7 — 7 = 22) 



Occasionally supernumerary teeth appear and are irregularly placed. 



It has been supposed that by the teeth of the dog his age could be deter- 

 mined; a mistake in many instances as is veiy evident. Disease will cause 

 them to decay, certain medicines promote their early destruction, the too 

 frequent feeding of bones wear them away, and a young dog may have 

 poor teeth, and those of an old onebe well preserved. 



It will be observed by the an'angement of the teeth that their pui'pose is 

 to bite, tear, and crush. Nature makes no provision for grinding or mastica- 

 tion. In this the construction Is identical with that of all carnivorous or 

 fiesh eating animals. The food is bolted, and passes into the stomach 

 without meeting with either a mechanical change from the teeth, or a 

 chemical influence from salivaiy secretions of the mouth. 



