474 REVIEW-GIRARD ON THE TEETH 
form is very striking, the rounding of the original and large 
conical point, and the gradual obliteration of the rudiment an¬ 
teriorly, and the two supplimental points posteriorly, until at 
length there remains the conical, or almost triangular equi-lateral 
formed tooth, and rounded at the three angles.' 
In his description of the grand carnivorous tooth, or anterior 
true molar, M. Girard is still more incorrect and superficial. It 
is that which the naturalist, and the veterinarian as almost ne¬ 
cessarily a naturalist, should recognise at a glance. It is that 
which is characteristic of the genus. It is in both jaws a com¬ 
pound tooth. In the upper jaw, to which the naturalist looks 
for the distinguishing mark of the genus, it is essentially a tren¬ 
chant or cutting tooth, having two distinct prominences or pro¬ 
jections, and each of them double-edged. On the inner side 
anteriorly, and at the base, and scarcely rising above the gum, 
there is a small tubercle; and still on the inside, and just visible 
above the gum posteriorly, is a ridge commencing under the valley 
between the peaks, and extending to the back part of the tooth. 
These prominences and cutting edges project over, and in every 
movement of the jaw rub upon the outer surface of the corre¬ 
sponding first true molar in the lower jaw, being thus admi¬ 
rably calculated to crush and to tear whatever they come in 
contact with. The prominences and cutting edges of the lower 
molar are fitted to and rub against the inner side of the upper 
one, and at length rest upon the ridge which has been just de¬ 
scribed. The little tubercle is brought almost into contact with 
the second tubercular molar tooth of the lower jaw. 
The wearing of these teeth, although the different periods of 
age have not been, and probably could not be, assigned, de¬ 
pending so much as they do, and so much more than the incisor 
teeth could possibly do, on the food, is very strongly marked — 
the rounding of the points—the exposure of the bone of the tooth 
after the rounding has proceeded to a certain way—the gradual 
eating away of the ridge of the tooth, until it is actually lost in 
the gum, into which the points of the lower teeth seem to pene¬ 
trate; and, most of all, and deserving of study, the gradual deve¬ 
lopment of the tubercle, scarcely perceptible in the puppy, gra¬ 
dually increasing as the animal becomes capable of shewing him¬ 
self a truly carnivorous one; and, at length, gradually worn 
down by attrition with the neighbouring teeth. 
The first lower true molar is also a compound tooth. Ante¬ 
riorly it is bicuspid, or rather tricuspid ; for there are two cones 
fully developed, and the rudiment of a third posteriorly; and 
still more posteriorly the tooth is truly tubercular. It is the 
