as indicative of the Age of the Animal. 
315 
and liaving served its purpose, the temporary tooth scarcely 
obtains from the surrounding vessels sufticient nutrient matter 
to maintain its vitality. Decay consequently results, not unfre- 
quently leading also to a diseased state of the gums. These 
displaced teeth, likewise, from projecting forwards out of the 
line of the jaw, occasionally produce abrasion of the lips, 
which will now and then interfere with the capability of the 
animal to collect his food. Tliese are among the things, there- 
fore, to which we should direct our attention when wc observe 
some slight impairment of the power of grazing. 
To return to the causes of the shedding of the teeth. The 
removal of a temporary tooth, as an impediment to the advance 
of a fully-developed permanent one, doubtless favours the 
process. It should be observed, however, that these teeth 
are often, in one animal at least, intentionally removed, and as 
such their fall is premature. I allude to the well-known circum- 
stance that persons are accustomed to draw the temporary 
"corner" teeth of the horse, to give this animal an apparent age 
beyond his real one. Whether such a procedure does in reality 
exert any considerable quit kening process upon the permanent 
teeth is somewhat questionable. There are those in the Veteri- 
nary profession, eminent for the extent of their practical know- 
ledge, who hold that the cutting of these teeth is not in the 
least facilitated by such an act. That the taking out of a 
temporary tooth, upon the near approach to the surface of a per- 
manent one, may hasten the process, can be readily supposed ; 
but the premature removal of such a tooth acting as a ])ro- 
moter to the development of the permanent is quite another 
thing. 
The accidental removal of the incisors of the ox and sheep, 
especially of the latter when pastured amid heath plants, is a 
common occurrence. Whether the permanent incisors of these 
animals are put up earlier from such an accident becomes a 
question in deciding upon age, and even extensive breeders of 
sheep differ materially on this point ; on the whole, however, 
there seems little ground for tlie opinion that the cutting of the 
permanent incisors is hastened by such removal. 
In competing for prizes it is hardly to be supposed that any 
person would interfere with the teething of his animals, because 
such proceedings would but defeat the object had in view. Still, 
with such a precedent before us as the celebrated " Running- 
rein case," it is possible that the accidental loss of the temporary 
teeth might be assigned as the cause of the too early exist- 
ence of the permanent. We often hear of the " bishoping " 
of old horses to deceive an unwary purchaser ; but I know of 
means which would give to the teeth of the ox or sheep an 
