REVIEW—THE HORSE’S MOUTH. 
355 
in confirmation or in refutation of such certificates as accompany 
the candidate for the race to the starting-post; to carry out which 
the Club have recently issued “ rules” enforcing dental as well 
as verbal or written testimony of the ages of horses admitted to 
run. 
Thus much for the subject of the work. We will now essay a 
brief sketch of the history and pretensions of its talented author, 
and, after exhibiting specimens of his performance, will conclude 
this article with our opinions of the work itself. Mr. Mayhew com¬ 
menced the study of a new (the veterinary) profession at a period 
of life when many men retire from active business. With a mind 
not in a condition to receive instruction through the ordinary chan¬ 
nels, he found himself compelled to be his own teacher, being able 
to learn only through observation. This led him into inquiries 
whose results often placed him in opposition with established opi¬ 
nions. Nature’s own pupil, nature alone could he describe. He 
could set down nothing but what was the result of practice or the 
consequence of legitimate induction. He could not bear with the 
“traditional teaching” of the schools; nor could he put up with the 
“ no spirit of inquiry or thought of extending the boundaries of know¬ 
ledge” which therein in his time existed. “ On the teeth,” therefore, 
says Mr. Mayhew, “my investigations began from the beginning; 
and though I cannot but say I have been greatly assisted by the 
information derived from the labours of previous writers, yet I have, 
in every instance, accepted their assertions only after I had tested 
them and found them to be correct.”— Preface, p. xii. 
A subject such as “ age ” yields no fruits in the hands of a man 
who sits and indites in his closet; contenting himself with the 
gleanings of libraries, and reposing upon the authorities of authors, 
while the wide and varied field of inquiry lies as open to him as 
to others. No! if he desire to reap, he must till the soil and sow 
the seed. To make himself acquainted with the “ age of the 
horse,” he must turn up his cuffs and his wristbands, and by coaxing 
and adroitness prevail upon the animal to permit him to inspect 
its teeth; nor must his examination be protracted, lest the subject 
under inquiry lose all patience and forbearance, and so defeat his 
object. After such a manner alone can a knowledge of the living 
character and phases of the dental organs be obtained. And if 
