^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. \ HOW TO TELL The Agx of the Domestic Animals. aSxiautard, m.d., h.f.r.c.v.s. Professor of Anatomy, Operative Surgery and Sanitary Medicine to the American Veterinary College, N. Y. V 9F C©' ^^v>. NEW yoKK : WILLIAM R. JENKINS, Veterinary Publisher and Bookseller, No. 850 Sixth Avenue, 1885. Copyright, 1885, "WILLIAM E. JENKINS. IZ HowtoTelltheAge Domestic Animals, THE AGE OF THE HOESE. The best and only scientific way to tell the age of animals is by the teeth. This knowledge, though put in practice for many years, was however never brought to almost perfection until Pessina and Gi- rard, Jr., had made known all the characters, almost 4 How TO TELL THE AgE positive, by which the age of horses could be de- tected after eight years. The lower incisive s, in herbivora, are those which present us those characters ; the upper being more irregular in their wear, and more difficult to examine and observe. The lower incisives are divided into : — Nippers, A, (Fig. 1) ; Dividers, B ; Corners, C. Fig. 1. Each one has a free part, or crown, and a portion contained in the alveolar cavity, the root. OF THE Domestic Animals. 5 The crown has an anterior A, (Fig. 2), and a pos- ? -K Fis:. 2. terior face B, an internal C, an external D, an ante- rior E, and a posterior border F, surrounding at the superior extremity a cavity — the external dental cavity 6 How TO Tell the Age — which by the wearing of the borders becomes small- er, until, when almost disappeared, the tooth is said to be worn. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a tooth, ex- Fig. 3. hibiting the structure : aa', enamel; bb', dentine or OF THE Domestic Animals. 7 ivory, entirely surrounded by the enamel ; c, dental pulp contained in the internal dental cavity, which shows itself on the dental table as a white mark, known as the dental star. Fig. 4 is a transverse section, showing, a, the cul- de-sac of the external dental cavity surrounded by b, central enamel, with c, the dental star — first shade of the internal dental cavity; the whole being sur- rounded by d, the surrounding enamel. ¥\x. 4. 8 How TO Tell the Age Fig. 5 points out the various shapes of the tooth in different parts of its length. First, flattened from forward backwards ; then oval ; then rounded, tri- angular and biangular, or flattened from side to side. These various shapes will be most essential in de- termining the age in the third period of life of the animal. Fig. 5. OF THE Domestic Animals. 9 Fig. 6 is a milk or caduct tooth, and Fig. 7 repre- sents the canine or tusks, which are missing in mares, or, if they exist, are onl}^ rudimentar3^ Fig. 6. Fig. 7. The incisors implanted in the two maxillary bones form what is known as the incisive arch. Meeting naturally those of the upper with those of the lower jaw they form two arches or curves — one from above below, and one from one side to the other, supero- inferior and transversal arch, which vary much,'ac- 10 How TO Tell the Age cording to the age of tlie animal and specially in the old ones. A tooth is said to be worn when the external den- tal cavity has been much reduced in depth by wear- ing of the plate, and Avhen there remains but the cul de sac of the same cavity surrounded by central enamel. The life of an animal may be divided, taking in consideration the changes that take place in the evolution and alteration of the teeth, into three periods : 1st. — Change of caduct teeth. 2d. — Growth and wearing of the adult. 3d. — Change in the adult. FIEST PERIOD. Colts are generally born in the Spring — no in- cisives present. First and second molar, and at the end of the first month, the third molar. The incisives, however, will make their appearance in from twenty-four hours to a few days. The nippers OF THE Domestic Animals. H then come out by their anterior border, and at one month (Fig. 8) the posterior border is on a level. Fic'. 8. About the same time the dividers begin to show themselves, and for some time the colt remains with eight incisives only, the growth taking place between thirty and forty days (Fig. 9). Fig. 9. 12 How TO Tell the Age. The corners vary in their growth between the sixth and tenth months (Fig. 10). Fig. 10. All these teeth, as they gradually appear, undergo a process of wearing, and in this way we obtain another character, viz. : that the caduct nippers are worn at about ten months to a year, the dividers are at eighteen months, and at two years a full mouth of worn milk teeth is found. SECOND period. 2^ to Sl, Appearance and growth of the caduct nippers ; milk dividers and corner teeth worn (Fig. 11). OF THE Domestic Animals. 13 Fig. 11. Si to 4. The nippers are those of second dentition. The permanent dividers make 'their appearance and grow out of the alveoli. Milk corner teeth worn loose, more or less, and ready to make room for the corners of second dentition (Fig. 12). Fig. 12. 5 years. The nippers are worn more or less com- pletely. The dividers are on a level with the hip- 1'4 How TO Tell the Age. pers, and have their posterior border on a level with the anterior (Fig. 13). Fi-. 13. The corners are lower than the dividers. There is a notch on the posterior border which is lower than the anterior. Sometimes this notch is very deep and extends down on the posterior face of the tooth, which is then called a shell tooth. Then the corners are fresh and well grown out. The two dental arches form a regular semi-circle from above below, and from one side to the other. 6 years. The nippers are worn. The cul-de-sac of the external dental cavity is slightly worn in its middle. The dividers are becoming worn ; the corners are on a level with the dividers, and present their ante- rior border worn down (Fig. 14). OF THE DOMEBTIC AnIMALS. 15 Fig. U. 7 years. In tlie nippers the central enamel is be- coming triangular. The diyiders are worn and have the external cul-de-sac slightly concave in the mid- dle, while in the corners the posterior border is worn some and the tooth also begins to wear. It is not uncommon to find at that age a notch on the superior corners (Fig. 15). Fi-. 15. 16 How TO Tell the Age 8 years. The nippers are oval, the central enamel is narrow and near the posterior border. The divid- ers are becoming oval and present a central enamel triangular. The corners are worn and show their central enamel concave well in the middle of the dental plate. It is then, at that age of 8 j^ears, that all the teeth of second dentition are worn (Fig. 16). Fij?. 16. THIRD PERIOD. 9 years. The nippers are rounded, their central enailiel round is very near the posterior border. The dividers are yet oval and have the central en- amel much like that of the nippers. OF THE Domestic Animals. 17 In the corners, wliich are oval, the central enamel is still of a triangular shape (Fig. 17). Pig. 17. 10 years. The nippers are rounded. The central enamel, which is round, is still nearer the posterior border, and is small. The dividers are nearly round, while the corners still remain oval. The supero- inferior arch of the teeth becomes more angular. 11 years. The central enamel has disappeared in the nippers, while in the others it is very small. All the teeth are round. On the surface of the nippers and between what remains of the central enamel on the dividers and corners, appears the cul-de-sac of 18 How TO Tell the Age the internal dental cavity, the dental star, as a small yellow or grayish band, transverse and situated be- tween the enamel and the anterior border of the tooth. 12 years. All the teeth are rounded, and in all the central enamel has disappeared. The teeth meet still more in forming an angle open towards the mouth (Fig. 18). J.3 years. There is but little change with the above. All the teeth have yet the same shape — they are all rounded. 14 years. The nippers are becoming triangular. The dividers -and corners remain roimded. The OF THE Domestic Animals. 19 transverse arch of tlie teeth becomes narrower (Eig. 19). Fig. ID. 16 years. The nippers are triangular, the dividers becoming so, the corners still rounded. 16 years. The dividers are nearly triangular and the corner teeth assuming that shape. Fij?. 20. 20 How TO Tell the Age 17 years. The corners are still more so (Fig. 20), and at 18 years the incisive arch is occupied with triangular teeth all through (Fig. 21). rig. 21. 19 years. The last change begins. The nippers assume a flattened sideways shape. At 20 years they are flattened from side to side, the dividers becoming so. At 21 years these last are also flattened sideways, when at 22 years the entire arch contains also teeth flat- tened in the same conditions, representing -the last OF THE Domestic Animals. 21 form represented by the tooth towards its root (Fig. 22.) i Bs* 22. From 19 years the horizontality of the teeth is becoming more and more marked in such a man- ner that at 21 the inferior incisive arch is ahnost straight. lEREGULAR MOUTHS. On account of the peculiar nature of some of the elements of the tooth and of its anatomical struc- ture, some jaws will either wear out too rapidly, while others will not, and on this account a young animal may present an old mouth, or an old indi- vidual will show all the characters of a young 22 How TO Tell the x^ge mouth. To approximate the age exhibited by such a mouth we will take off from the characters shown in the first case, or add to those of the second as many years as by approximation the tooth will show in measuring by lines the number which would be necessary to add or to take off to give the tooth its normal length. Fig. 2'6 shows a defective jaw of an old horse, in Fig. 23. which the external dental cavity is yet remaining ; the excessive length of the teeth allows us to make out the age by adding to the age given by the marks' of the crown as many years as there are lines in ex- cess in its length. OF THE Domestic Animals. 23 Fig. 24. Fig. 24 shows tlie jaw of a cribber, witli the wear- ing of the teeth on the front jaws. Fig. 25. 24 Age of the Domestic Animals. Fig. 25 is a biscliopped mouth, easily recognized by the shape of the teeth and the presence of the dental star, which is not surrounded by the central enamel. AGE OF CATTLE. The calf is often born with the nippers and first middle teeth, or at least they are out in the first eight days. Towards the twentieth day the second middle teeth appear, and at the end of a month the corners. However, the dental arch is not perfect and round or full until five or six months. The wear of the teeth varying with the mode of feeding, in general it may be said that the milk nip- pers are worn at ten monthsy the first middle teeth, at one year, the second middle incisives at fifteen months^ and the corners at tiventy months. At this time the Fiff. 26. 26 How TO Tell the Age caduct nippers are shed and replaced by the perma- nent nippers, which are at their full growth at two years. Fig. 27. From two and a half to three years, appearance of the first middle permanent incisives (Fig. 28). From three and a half to four, that of the second middle permanent incisives (Fig. 29). From four and a half to five, that of the corners (Fig. 30). From five to six years, the jaw is full well round. 'From seven to eight, the nippers are worn. From eight to nine, the middle teeth are worn. At ten years, the corners are worn. OF THE Domestic Animals. 27 Fig. 28. 29, 30 and 31. 28 How TO Tell the Age At eleven years, the teeth begin to be quite short and somewhat separated. At twelve, the separation of the teeth is well marked. The dental star appears as a white band, and the teeth assume a square rubbing shape (Fig. 31). After this age the characters are only vague and approximative. AGE OF SHEEP. The lamb is ordinarily born without teetli, but in about twenty-five clays these all grow, and the dental arch is full and round at three months (Eig. 32). Towards eighteen months, the milk nippers are replaced by those of adults (Fig. 33). 3 months. Towards two years, the first middle milk teeth drop and are replaced by the adult teeth (Fig. 34). From three to three and a half years, the second middle adult teeth grow (Fig. 35). From four to four and a half years, the corners of second dentition are appearing (Fig. 36). • • 30 Age of the Domestic Animals. At five years, tlie dental arcli is round. At nine years, all the teeth are worn (Fig. 37). 2 xjears. ^'^ 3^ year& Fir. 36. Fig. 37. AGE OF THE DOG. At birtli, the pup lia& generally all its incisives teeth. At that time his eyes are closed and remain so until the twelfth to fifteenth day. At two months begins the appearance of the permanent teeth. At five months all the incisives and tusks are replaced by adult teeth ; at eight months their growth is com- plete. Large dogs make teeth sooner than little ones. At one year, their teeth are fresh and without wear (Fig. 38). At two years (Fig. 39), wearing of the lower nip- pers and disappearance of the trifolium shape. 32 How TO Tell the Age Fin;. 38 Fig. 39. Fig. 10. Fig. 41. Fig. 42. At three years (Fig. 40) loss of the trifolium shape OF THE Domestic Animals. 33 of the inferior middle a.nd beginning of wear on the upper nippers. At four years (Fig. 41), superior nippers are worn and the teeth are becoming yellow. At five years (Fig. 42), all the teeth are worn. From that time, it is impossible to tell the animal's age. AGE OF THE PIG. At birtli are found the corners and tiisks ; and at three or four months the milk incisives are pres- ent. At six months, the lower corners are replaced by the permanent ones, the nippers and middle teeth being somewhat worn. At eight to eleven months, the caduct tusks are re- placed by those of second dentition. From twenty months to two years, the nippers are replaced by adult ones. From two and a half to three years, the middle teeth undergo the same change. William R. Jenkins's Veterinary Books. 850 SIXTH AVENUE, NEW YOKE. Any of the following books will be sent post paid on receipt of the price ; full Catalogue on application. Animal Castration. By Dr. A. Liautard. 12mo, illus- ^""^^^ trated ^2 00 American Veterinary Review. Edited by Prof. A. Liau- tard, H.F.R. CVS. Issued monthly. Subscription, $4 per year ; single copy 50 Armata^e. "Every Man His Own Horse Doctor." ' In which is embodied Blaine's "Veterinary Art," with 330 original illustrations, colored plates, anatomical drawings, etc. 8vo, half leather 7 50 Armata^e's Veterinarian's Pocket Remembrancer. By George Armatage, M.R.C.V.S., with concise directions and memoranda for the treatment in urgent or rare cases. 32mo, cloth 75 Armatage. 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