472 
REVIEW-GIRARD ON THE TEETH 
Traite de VAge du Cheval, par feu N. F. Girard, Troisieme 
Edition, publiee avec des changemens, et augment^ de VAge 
du B(euf, du Mouton, du Chien, et de Cochon, par 
J. Girard. 
[Continued from p. 417]. 
We proceed to extract the account which M. Girard gives of 
the molar teeth of the dog, as connected with his age—not being 
so interesting, indeed, as the history of the incisors, but making 
the subject complete. 
Each jaw of the dog contains twelve molar teeth—six on the right side, 
and the same number on the left; but besides these there are two little su¬ 
pernumerary molars, placed between the tush and the first of the six true 
molars. These supplementary molars have the same fleur-de-lis form as the 
incisors. They generally continue only a certain time, and their loss is 
always attributable to external violence. The three first molars {avant molaires) 
above as well as below, are somewhat apart from each other. The anterior 
one is the smallest, and they gradually increase in size as we proceed back¬ 
wards. Their upper surface presents, in the middle, a long pyramidal pro¬ 
jection, well adapted to break and tear whatever has been received into the 
mouth. The first avant molar, whose root is unicuspide like the tush, is 
often wanting, or is broken, from the same cause as the absence or injury 
of the supernumerary one {sur molaire). The two other avant-molaires are 
subject to similar accidents, but not to so great a degree, from their being 
placed farther back in the mouth. 
“The three posterior molars {arrihemolaires) are permanent teeth. The 
first superior one is a large tooth, whose root has three branches: the body of 
the tooth extends lengthwise along the jaw, and its tuberous table or surface 
is distinguished by two considerable prominences or points. The second 
superior back molar is also a large tooth, extending its length along the 
side of the other, and its root has three branches. The last superior back 
molar is less than either of the others, and resembles the last in the form of 
its surface, but the root is bicuspid. 
“ In the lower jaw the first back molar is a very large tooth. It is larger 
than both of the others united. It resembles the corresponding tooth in the 
upper jaw, and rubs against the two first back teeth of that jaw. The second 
back molar of the lower jaw has much analogy to the last back molar of the 
upper jaw, and the last in the lower jaw is a very small short tooth, which 
nevertheless comes into contact with the last tooth in the upper jaw, and so 
assists in the mastication of the food. 
“The table or surface of the back molars, above and below, is flat and 
favourably arranged for crushing, and in some sort grinding, the food sub¬ 
mitted to their action ; while the surface of the front molars offers a succes¬ 
sion of points, and is adapted for penetrating and tearing the food. 
“The three milk front molars do not differ from the permanent ones, 
except that they are smaller and whiter. These temporary teeth fall, and arc 
replaced about the same time as the true canine teeth. The order in which 
the molars first appear and are replaced will contribute little to a knowledge 
of the age of the dog, on account of the difficulty and even the danger of 
opening the mouth of an animal capable of biting us severely. On this ac- 
