The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-24
For The 1arulers.
The Teeth Of the Horse aud his Age

4 was upon the subieci above cited. Wecut the
Following report OF his remarks from that ex-
!, cellent paper, the Boston Traveller:
In. opening, the lecturer remarked. that the
belief that thesage Of horse, is shown by his
: teetbsis Of very ancient origin. The develop
ment Of these organs is very regular, but yet
.the appearances that they present at different
periods are not a sure criterion by which to
judge of age. 1t is sure enough, however, to
ssuswer all practical purposes. 1t can hardly
be said that the horse carries about in his mouth
a certificate of his birth, and yet so regular are
sthe changes which take place at stated times
IN the mouth of the horse, that experienced
observers have no difficulty in approximating
with considerable certainty to the age of the
apimsL ~. ~,
: The lecturer then dwelt at length on the
anatomyz of the teeth of the horse, which are
forty in number These teeth are ser in the
ssjawin separate cavities, divided by b"ny sub
5 stance: these cavities change their form with
sage, and when a tooth. is lost, become entirely
filled up. s > asls,.e, .,-, T.,
OF the fortysteeth, twelve are incsors, twen-
Gtg-faur are molars, and four are etuscors.
- The nippers are clssped in pairs, being cut
IN, that manner. The wolf teeth are just an,
terier to the grinders, have very small fangs,
and are shed with the first molars.; :
heteeth are composed Of threeingredients,
the cflsta pretora, or hard scrnstswhich Is
Sometimes supposed to be tartar the enamel,
isof pearly color, and very brittfess.tbe ivory,
forming, the main body OF the teoth.
In the nippers are cavities protected by the
scrusta pretora, which continues into them.
These cavities are called marks, and are sup
posed toshow the age of the horse. They can
not be relied upon accurately, as they, in some
horses, become filed by the crusa pretora at a
much earlier period than in others. In the
Temporary teeth the marks are very shallow.
but in permanent teeth much larger.
Mature provides for the gradual wear of the
teeth Of the horse. The teeth grow until the
animal IS seven y ears of age, and after that
they gradually project farther and farther into
the mouth. In an old horse the marks are
much more shallow than in the young horse
showing that the teeth have pr jected.
The tuscors exist only in the rudimentary
: form ia man, and are often not found at all.
They are chiefly useful to the stations in the
combats in which they often engage, especially
in q wild state -
The milk, or temporary teeth, are removed
by absorption. The permanent molars are
fully cut before the milk teeth are shed, thus
keeping the horse supplied with instruments to
grind his food. The mouth Of young colt re-.
ssenhles very much in form parrots mouth
sSs The horse has two sets of teeth, the tempo
tary or milk teeth, and the permanent teeth.
The milk teeth are twenty-four in number,
twelve ineisors and twelve molars.
It is highly important, in judging of the age
of the horse. to be able to distinguish between
the milk and the permanent teeth. The milk
teeth are white, the crowns are short aud broad,
the meek is well developed, and the roots are
short. The onter surface iscnyersd with chau-
55nels. giving the5tee,hsa fliited appearance.
The permanentteeth are large, the enamel
is only partially exposed, and there is no fluted
appearance, but one or twO broad grooves run
the length Of the crown; the table is also
broader.
Todetermine the age of the horse, the French
divide his life into seven PERIODS. The first is
from birth to ten months Of age, and is char
aetsrized by the appearance of the milk incisors,
the two middle making their appearance du.
ring the first ten days after birth, and being
very large in comparison to the size Of the
animal. The other incisors appear at gradual
periods during the first division. During this
division, also, three milk grinders appear.
The second period is from ten mouth, to
two and a half years. At one year of age all
the incisors have appeared and are well up. but
no wear can be discovered. The first perma-
nent mola- ;n 'kes its appearance at the age Of
one year. At eighteen months Of aye the
second permanent molar appears, aud the horse
has then FIVE molars. At two years of age
some signs of wear appear.
The third period extends from two and a
half years to five years. At two and half
years of age the permanent ncisnrs make tn, ir
appearance in pairs, and the teeth become
frnl, set. At three years of age, the two
middle permanent incisors make their appear.
ance. and sre readily distinguished from the
milk teeth by their form, size and color, being
darker aud larger. The two first milk molars
are shed, and their places are supplied by two
permanent molars. We have then four per.
n,nnent and one milk grinder. At four wears
of age, two lateral ncisors appear, and there
are then four permanent incisors in each law
The third milk molar is shed, and six perma.
pent M lars are found in the head. These six
molars are the Distinguishing characteristics of
the four year.old horse. At two years and
half, the two corner milk incsors are lost, and
until the horse is five years of age, no corner
teeth are visible. At this latter aye, however,
two permanent teeth supply the gap.
The fourth period extends from five to eight
wears of age, and is characterized by full set
of moIsrs and incisers The mouth appears
re semcircular form; as age comes on, this
form is lost, and the jaws grow fattened. The
tuscors appear between the age Of three and
Eve years. bat are irregular and cannot be de-