M// 
 
 
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 UNITED STATES OF AMEEICA. 
 
^^ 
 
AN 
 
 INFALLIBLE GUIDE 
 
 TO DISCOVER 
 
 THE AGE OF HOBSES. 
 
 BY 
 
 LOUIS BRA.NDT, 
 
 VETERINARY SURGEON. 
 
 Right of Translation reserved. 
 
 WITH FORTY-SIX WOOD ENGRAVINGS, 
 
 BY G. KAEHRLE. 
 
 Price $1. 
 
 INDIANOLA, TEXAS. 
 
 2/^ 
 
 
S F8if 
 3^3 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1860, by Loms 
 Brandt, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United 
 States for the Southern District of New- York. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 There are few persons^ even among the veterinary 
 surgeons, who are able to determine the exact age of 
 a horse, after it has attained its eighth year, how 
 much less then can it be expected that those should 
 do so, who have neither anatomical nor physiologi- 
 cal knowledge of that animal. 
 
 Horse-dealers are frequently accused of deceiving- 
 purchasers in the age of horses ; now every horse- 
 dealer must be desirous of retaining and increasing 
 his good reputation, and would therefore not deceive 
 others in this respect unless he were himself deceived. 
 
 The purpose of this book is, entirely to set aside 
 this deception and to enable all, both sellers and 
 buyers (even those who never before knew anything 
 about the age of a horse) by a careful perusal of its 
 contents, to discover for themselves with unerring- 
 accuracy the age of any horse. 
 
 This book is published in convenient form, so that 
 it may be c-arried in the pocket, as it would be dif- 
 ficult for a person, who was going to purchase a horse, 
 and who had perhaps never before taken any interest 
 
IV 
 
 in horses, to remember all the rules given in this book 
 after one perusal. 
 
 The author who has theoretically and practically 
 studied as veterinary surgeon, has had opportunities 
 of examining thousands of stud-horses of various 
 ages thus thoroughly convincing himself of the 
 reliability of the rules he has laid down for the dis- 
 covery of the age of a horse. 
 
 The value of that most beautiful and useful animal, 
 differs much at different ages, and as its age is so 
 frequently mistaken, it is necessary that the public 
 should possess a sure guide by which its may be as- 
 certained. 
 
 This is the purpose of 
 
 The Author. 
 September 1860. 
 
iittr0kttioit. 
 
 The age of horses can only be ascertained with any 
 degree of exactness, by the teeth ; particularly by the 
 incisors. 
 
 The only reliable and positive proof of the age of 
 horses being the successive changes which take place 
 during a succession of years, it becomes absolutely' 
 necessary that one should make oneself thoroughly 
 acquainted with these changes, viz : form, attrition, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 The following description and drawings will enable 
 every individual without exception, to ascertain easily 
 and accurately the age of a horse. 
 
 A foal is born without incisors, but has 12 back 
 teeth, 3 pair in each jaw, which have at least forced 
 their points through the gums. In the course of 14 
 days after birth 4 nippers appear, in 6 weeks the 
 middle teeth, and in the course of 8 months the 4 cor- 
 ner teeth ; so that in 9 months it has 24 teeth in the 
 upper and lower jaws. These are called foal-teeth, 
 and are all changed by their 5th or 6th year ; those 
 succeeding them are called horse-teeth. 
 
 The back teeth appear in the following order : the 
 4 front pair, as before stated, appear at birth and are 
 afterwards changed. The 4th double pair (the first 
 which remain stationary) a^^pear after the 9th month, 
 and are sure to be found in every foal of a year old. 
 The 5th four appear in the second, sometimes not un- 
 til the third year, and the 5th usually in the fourth, 
 frequently not until the fifth year. All these three 
 5 
 
6 
 
 pairs of back double teeth remain unchanged, as do 
 also the four hook-teeth which as to the time of their ap- 
 pearance are the most uncertain of all. They appear 
 sometimes at the end of the third year, sometimes in 
 the middle or at the end of the fourth, often in the 
 middle and less frequently at the end of the fifth, but 
 sometimes not until the beginning of the sixth year. 
 The back and hook teeth need not be very minutely 
 described as they are of little use in ascertaining the 
 age ; but the incisors on the contrary deserve great 
 attention on this account. 
 
 Fig. 1. 
 
 Fig. 1 shews the right side of the milk incisors of 
 the lower jaw, in their natural size and fully de- 
 veloped. 
 
 a. The nippers; 
 
 hy The middle tooth ; 
 
 c, The corner tooth. 
 
 The surface is represented arched On the exterior. 
 Qi) Shews the contracted body of the tooth. (0 The 
 narrow arched neck, (m) The root. 
 
A, B, C, shew the concave side of these teeth to- 
 wards the hollow of the mouth. The mark is en- 
 closed within the outeredge d A f, d B f, d C f, and 
 the inner somewhat lower one d e f. 
 
 (g) Shews the hollow inside surface of the body 
 of the tooth. 
 
 The incisors of the foal differ from those of the 
 horse : Istly by their regular conical formation, 2ndly 
 almost in the centre of their body a narrow con- 
 traction is visible, which is called the neck ; this is 
 entirely wanting in the horse teeth, 3rdly at their 
 full growth they are smaller than horse teeth. The 
 full length of the milk teeth is about half that of 
 horse teeth; this cannot however be perceived in 
 live horses. The exact breadth is also not to be de- 
 pended upon, because the milk teeth of large foals 
 appear almost as broad as those of small horses. If 
 the nippers are horse teeth they will form a great 
 contrast with the middle and corner teeth, whose 
 size will at once betray them as milk teeth, especial- 
 ly the corner teeth, if the middle ones have changed. 
 4thly the outer surface of the foal teeth are smooth 
 and striped with brown ; but on horse teeth the same 
 surface is divided by a dirty yellow indentation, in- 
 clining towards the centre, wiiich is sometimes double 
 on the upper teeth. The last two signs of distinc- 
 tion are alone sufficient to prevent any one from mis- 
 taking a foal for a horse tooth. 
 
Of the Formation of the Incisors. 
 
 In order to become fully acquainted with the form of 
 the incisors, one must accurately examine those taken 
 from the jaw bones of dead horses of various ages. On 
 every incisor may be observed. 1st A grinder which 
 visibly protudes with each tooth out of its cavity above 
 the gum, and which commences in a funnel shaped cavity, 
 and ends in a smooth even surface. 2nd A substance 
 which is partly exposed, and partly hidden by the gum 
 and in the cavity of the tooth. 3rd A root end with 
 which each tooth sinks into its cavity. The foal as well 
 as the horse-teeth suffer a slow and continual waste of 
 tooth-substance, from chewing and biting with their grind- 
 ers, by which means not only the form of the grinder is 
 changed from year to year but the length of the teeth 
 is constantly decreasing, and that frequently quite evenly 
 and regularly, so that in the course of time, at a very 
 advanced age they will sometimes not exceed half an 
 inch in length while in youth they were 2| — 3 inches 
 long. 
 
 The breadth and length of the teeth decrease in time 
 in the same proportions. 
 
 The thickness as well as the breadth of the foal-teeth 
 is constantly decreasing, from the grinder to the end of 
 the root; the contrary is the case with the horse-teeth. 
 
 The form of the foal incisors may be thus classified : 
 1st The grater or grinder. 2nd Its external surface, out- 
 wardly arched towards the lips. 3rd An inward surface 
 arched towards the hollow of the mouth. The two last 
 mentioned pass together into the root of the tooth. The 
 grinder which has not been used, of every foal or horse, 
 8 
 
has the form of an egg, and is three times as broad as it 
 is thick, hollowed out in the shape of a funnel, and is 
 supplied with two sharp edges, which surround the socket. 
 We will call this socket "the mark." In the centre of 
 this mark a kernel may be observed, which forms a tube 
 commencing at the end of the root, for the reception of 
 the nerves and vessels; this must not be confounded with 
 the mark of the tooth, which is entirely different; the 
 mark being the outer, and the cavity the inner hole, and 
 which is found in every young tooth not yet worn down 
 to the kernel, Avhich tooth consists merely of an enameled 
 shell, filled during the life time of the animal with a 
 thickish fluid, which by degrees becomes a grey matter. 
 This fluid enters the lower incisors, upon an average to the 
 depth of 4, and in the upper ones 8 lines, and is entirely 
 seperated from the beforenamed inner socket, by means 
 of an enameled funnel-shaped shell of its own. One of 
 the outer edges forms at the same time the basis of the 
 outer surface, and one of the interior, that of the inner 
 surface. The outer edge of each tooth, always rises one 
 or two lines above the inner one, so that when the newly 
 formed upper and loAver incisors are first used, and grated 
 together, the outer edges alone touch for a considerable 
 time. The inner edges do not come into contact, until 
 the outer ones are worn down to an equal height with. 
 them, Avhich for the horse-teeth generally requires a whole 
 year. 
 
10 
 
 Fig. 2. I year. 
 
 Represents the lower jaw of a half year old foal. By 
 observing the inside, it will be percieved that, both the 
 outer and inner edge of the nipper are worn, but of the 
 middle teeth only the outer edge, while the corner teeth 
 have not yet come into contact. 
 
 Fig. 3. 4- year. 
 
 Is the representation of the outer side of the jaw of a 
 half year old foal. 
 a, a) The Nippers; 
 h, h) The Middle teeth; 
 c, c) The Corner teeth. 
 
11 
 
 Fig. 4. I year 
 Ik a side view of the jaw of a lialf year old foal. 
 
 Y'v^. 5. 1 year. 
 
 Shews the lower jaw at a year old; where the edges of 
 all the incisors are partly worn by friction, and the inner 
 edge of the corner teeth alone remain uniniured. 
 
12 
 
 Fig. 6. 2 years. 
 
 Is the lower jaw at 2 years old, in which the edges of 
 the nippers and middle teeth, and their mark are worn 
 down, and the inner edge of the corner tooth is also 
 brought into requisition. 
 
 At the age of 2| years the teeth begin to change, and 
 those which then appear are called permanent, or rather 
 Horse-teeth. 
 
13 
 
 A Description of the Horse-teetli. 
 
 m 
 
 jn. 
 
 Fiar. 7. A. 
 
 Represents the appearance of the horse-incisors in 
 their respective places in the lower jaw, with their outer 
 surface arched towards the distant bony blade of the socket. 
 
 a, a) The two Nippers; 
 
 b, b) The middle teeth ; 
 
 c, c) The corner teeth ; 
 k, k) The Hooks; 
 
 e, d) Is the cavity in the outer partition of the mark; 
 
14 
 
 0, o) Shews the furrows which distinguish the Horse- 
 teeth ; 
 m m) The root of the Hooks. 
 
 or _ ^ fc 
 
 Fig. 7. B 
 
 Shews the incisors of the horse on the lower jaw, from 
 the inside of the mouth, in their position towards the 
 distant jaw bone, in which they are usually enclosed. 
 
 a a) The nippers, on the right side of which the at- 
 trition of the outer and upper edge is visible, where they 
 come into contact with the edge of the left side. 
 
 b h) The two middle teeth the right side of the outer 
 edge of which is beginning to be worn, while the inner 
 side is still uninjured. 
 
 d & e) The dotted lines shew the crown of the tooth 
 projecting beyond the gum. 
 
15 
 
 k k) Are the hooks about to break through. 
 m, m, m, 7n) Are the roots of the teeth not yet filled 
 out with the bony substance. 
 
 Shews a nipper after the probable friction caused by 
 the cutting of the horse incisor. 
 
 I, Shews it breaking through afresh at the age of 
 3 years. 1 & 2 Is its breadth. 3 & 4 its thickness. 
 
IG 
 
 //. Rejiresents the friction surface as it appears at the 
 age of 6 years (the crown cut off \ inch) where the 
 breadth (1 & 2) begins to decrease, and the thickness 
 (3 & 4) takes the form of an egg. 
 
 III. This section shews a rounder friction surface of 
 12 years old, in which the breadth and thickness become 
 proportionate. 
 
 IV. A triangular friction surface of 18 years. 
 
 V. Is a friction surface of 24 years in which the 
 breadth (1 & 2) measures but half as much as the thick- 
 ness (3 & 4). 
 
 Fig. 8. B, C. 
 
 Shews a horse-incisor, viewed from the side in which 
 the root. 
 
 c, e) Is twice as thick as the upper end; 
 
 b and c) Shew two foal-teeth, raised out of the socket, 
 and viewed from the side. 
 
17 
 
 Fig. 8. D. 
 [See page 15.] 
 
 Is an Incisor split length- wise, of a full grown horse. 
 
 d, CL, f) Is the outer raised edge. 
 
 a, o) The funnel shaped cj'vity of the tooth. 
 
 A') The hollow body. 
 
 m) The still unfilled root of the tooth. 
 
 A full grown stallion and gelding has 40 and a mare 
 36 real teeth, the former have 4 hook-teeth which are 
 wanting in the latter, although sometimes in place of 
 the hooks small stumps simular to teeth are found. The 
 so-called Wolfes-teeth which in some young horses are 
 found next to the first double teeth are not included in 
 this number; because they are not real teeth, they 
 appear only in youth, frequently do not break through 
 the gums at all, and usually disappear again, in 8 or 9 
 years. 
 
 24 of the real teeth in either sex, are seated in the 
 upper part of the mouth, viz above the lips. 12 in 
 each check bone, and 6 on each side. 
 
 They are divided into 6 double pairs, counting from 
 below, upwards, so that those situated next to the in- 
 cisors in all the 4 rows are 1st. Their neighbors 2nd 
 and so forth 3rd, 4th and 5th, and the last pair (which 
 are called back teeth) are the 6th. 
 
 12 others are seated in the lower part of the mouth, 
 surrounded by the lips, 6 in the upper, and 6 in the 
 lower jaw, all of which are covered by the lips, and 
 stand in a row, in the form of an arch, occupying the 
 entrance of the hollow of the mouth. These are called In- 
 cisors. The 4 innermost (2 in each jaw) are called 
 Nippers, the outer 4 in both jaws, the corner teeth and 
 the 4 seated between the nippers and the corner teeth, 
 are called the middle teeth. Each back tooth, and in- 
 cisor in both rows of the under-jaw, comes into contact 
 and rubs against the back tooth and incisor of the same 
 name in each row of the upper jaw. The teeth of the 
 
18 
 
 latter are however all broader and thicker than those 
 of the former. 
 
 The 4 Hooks are seated alone, over each corner tooth, 
 nearer to the same on the lower, than on the upper jaw, 
 but so that they never come in contact with each other, 
 like the back teeth and incisors. 
 
 The whole number of teeth does not become complete 
 and perfect, until the horse has attained the age of 4^ 
 or 5 years. Before t4iis time the younger it is, the fewer 
 of them it has in its mouth, and those which it has do 
 not all remain. 
 
 The form of a permanent incisor may be thus described. 
 The more it loses in length by friction, the more it also 
 loses in width, so that the nearer the friction surface ap- 
 proaches to the end of the root, the narrower and thicker 
 it must appear. 
 
 Fig. 8. A. 
 [See page 15.] 
 
 Shews most accurately and minutely, how the friction 
 surface changes by friction. 
 
 Fig. 7. A, k, k, and Fig. 7. B, k, k. 
 [See page 13.] 
 
 Shew the form of a Hook tooth. 
 
 The form of every new hook tooth resembles a cylin- 
 der, in the shape of a hook, with a conical projecting 
 grinder, which is surrounded by a spoon-shaped edge, 
 turned towards the hollow of the mouth, so that the cone 
 cannot be seen from the outside, and the whole grinder 
 has the appearance of the back side of the bowl of a 
 spoon. 
 
 The edge surrounds the half inch long cone, like a 
 screen, but so that two deep furrows remain between 
 the two. 
 
 With the exception of this grinder, the rest of the 
 body is uniformly round and if one is cut through, the 
 surface will be found to be almost even. 
 
19 
 
 As the liook teeth afford no reliable guide to the age 
 of a horse, a minute description of them is needless. 
 
 We have now shown in what manner the exact age of 
 a foal can be ascertained until it reaches the age of two 
 
 years. 
 
 The following will ex]Dlain how the age of a horse 
 
 (which generally speaking does not average over 30 years) 
 can with certainty be ascertained. 
 
 We will take the teeth of horses of a medium size as 
 a stand-point, and from the rules laid down for these, we 
 can calculate the age under other circumstances. 
 
 Laro-e horses it is evident have larger teeth than small 
 ones, but the age of both can be ascertained by the same 
 rule as that laid down for those of medium size. 
 
 As we stated before, the incisors afford the safest guide 
 to the knowledge of the age of a horse. The length of 
 the tooth of a horse of medium size is, 3 inches or 36 
 lines. After the newly changed tooth has arrived at its 
 proper length, it shoots up a line regularly every year, 
 and if the teeth stand rightly, the grinder wears off a 
 line every year. 
 
 Should the teeth (which is the case with many horses) 
 stand too far forwards, they do not wear down in the 
 same proportion as they shoot upwards; we therefore see 
 horses with very long teeth. This is however no hinder- 
 ance in ascertaining the age. We will treat of this more 
 elaborately anon. 
 
 At the age of 5 years, the corner teeth of the lower 
 jaw have grown up to 5 lines above the gum, each middle 
 tooth 7, and each nipper 9. 
 
 At 8 years of age, and older, each corner tooth of the 
 same horse projects only 4, the middle teeth 6, and the 
 nippers 8 lines above the gums. This is very important, 
 in fact necessary to be known, because, it is the only 
 means, by which one can decide Avith certainty upon the 
 age of a horse, whose teeth at an advanced age have be- 
 come longer than they would have done by proper wear. 
 
20 
 
 We will now first describe to the reader in what man- 
 ner the ao-e of a horse can be ascertained by those teeth 
 which Avear down just in the same proportion as they 
 shoot upwards, and consequently retain their proper 
 height above the gum. 
 
 Fig. 9. 2^ years. 
 
 The lower jaw at 2| years old, in which the two nip- 
 pers will be percieved to be breaking through afresh as 
 horse teeth, and the foal teeth appear as a smooth friction 
 surface. 
 
 Fig. 10. 3^ years. 
 Beprcsents the lower jaw at 31 years of age. The 
 
21 
 
 middle teeth are just breaking tlirouo;h, the outer edge of 
 the nippers is ah-eady worn down and the corner teeth 
 blunted . 
 
 Fig. 11. 4 1 years. 
 
 The lower jaw at 4| years old. One may percieve 
 the corner teeth and hooks breaking through, the middle 
 teeth worn only on the outer edge, and the nippers Avorn 
 down at both edsies. 
 
22 
 
 Fig. 12. 5 years. 
 
 Is an outside and side view of the lowei jaw at 5 years 
 of agre. 
 
 Fig. i3. 5 years. 
 Shews a side view of a lower jaw a1 5 years. 
 
23 
 
 Fig. 14. 5 years. 
 
 Shews a lower jaw at 5 years of age in wliicli both 
 edges of the nippers are worn down, almost to the ex- 
 tinction of the mark, the middle teeth only on the outer 
 edge, and the corner ones after having attained the 
 same height as the others, have also come into wear. 
 The hooks are full grown, but are not Avorn away in the 
 least. 
 
24 
 
 Fig. 15. 6 years. 
 
 At 6 years of age one percieves the nippers worn 
 down even with the middle teeth, in the lower jaw, 
 which teeth have still a cavity, and the inner edge of 
 the corner tooth has worn down, even with the outer 
 one. 
 
25 
 
 At 7 years the middle teeth in the lower jaw have 
 become even, both edges of the corner teeth rub, and 
 have still a small cavity. The hooks have lost more of 
 their edges, and their pointed ends have become more 
 rounded. The hooks as we have stated before, in dis- 
 covering the age of a horse, are not to be relied on, 
 great care is therefore necessary in consulting them, and 
 the signs they present can only be considered useful, when 
 they agree with those of the other teeth ; otherwise no 
 dependance at all, can be placed upon them. 
 
26 
 
 Fig. 17. 8 years. 
 
 Is a lower jaw at 8 years of age, in which the incisors 
 have all become equally worn, and in the corner tooth 
 merely a trace of the disappearing mark is visible. The 
 edges of the hooks are worn down, almost to half their 
 height. 
 
 As we previously observed, the marks in the upper 
 teeth are as deep again as those in the under ones,and 
 consequently wear as long again. 
 
 \ 
 
 I I 
 
27 
 
 Fig. 18. 9 years. . 
 
 Represents the upper jaw at 9 years old. It will be 
 percieved that the marks of the nippers have almost dis- 
 appeared; the middle teeth still shew a small mark; 
 the mark in the corner teeth is still deeper; the inner 
 edge is also worn down, whereby, the upper jaw at 9 
 years of age, can be distinguished, from the lower one 
 at 6 years. 
 
28 
 
 Fig. 19. 9 years. 
 
 Shews a side view of the upper jaw at 9 years of age, 
 in which the incision which is usually found in the comer 
 tooth (<i) may be observed. 
 
29 
 
 Fig. 20. 10 years. 
 Is an upper jaw at 10 years of age, when the mark 
 of the middle teeth is worn down. 
 
30 
 
 Fig. 21. 11 years. 
 
 Is the upper jaw at 11 years old, where the mark 
 of the corner teeth is worn down. 
 
31 
 
 Fig. 22. 12 years. 
 
 At 12 years of age the nippers in the lower jaw are 
 as thick as they are broad, they have become round. 
 The middle teeth are becoming round, and the corner 
 ones increase in thickness. 
 
32 
 
 Fig. 23. 12 years. 
 
 A side view of the upper jaw at 12 years of age 
 sliews tlie increased size of the incision (d) in the corner 
 tooth. 
 
 Fig. 24 13 years. 
 
33 
 
 Represents a lower jaw at 13 years of age, in which 
 the nippers and middle teeth, have become perfectly- 
 rounded. The corner teeth increase in thickness, and 
 the hooks have become blunt. 
 
 Fig. 25. I4 years. 
 
 At 14 years of age the corner tooth of the lower jaw 
 becomes round. 
 
34 
 
 Fig. 26 15 years. 
 At 15 years tlie nippers in tlie upper jaw are roundecl. 
 
 Fig 27. 16 years. 
 
no 
 
 At 16 years the middle teeth assume the same ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 Fig. 28, 17 years. 
 
 At 17 years the corner teeth of the upper jaw are 
 also rounded. 
 
 Fig. 29. 18 years. 
 
 At 18 years the nippers in the lower jaw are trian- 
 gular. 
 
36 
 
 Fig. 30. 19 years. 
 
 At 19 years the middle teeth in the lower jaw are 
 triangular. 
 
 Fig. 31. 20 years. 
 
 4. ig. oi. ii\j ycuio. 
 
 At 19 years the corner teeth of the lower jaw assume 
 e same form. 
 
 the same 
 
37 
 
 Fig. 32. 21 years. 
 At 21 years the nippers of the upper jaw have be- 
 
 come triangular. 
 
 Fig. 33. 22 years. 
 At 22 years the middle teeth of the upper jaw have 
 the triangular form. 
 
38 
 
 Fig. 34. 23 years. 
 At 23 years the corner teeth are also triangular. 
 
 Fig. 35. 24 years. 
 
 At 24 years the nippers in the lower jaw have be- 
 come twice as thick as broad. 
 
so 
 
 ^^^?^^^^' 1 
 /I 
 
 Fig. 36. 25 years. 
 At 25 years the same is the case ^Tith the middle 
 
 teeth 
 
 Fig. 37. 26 years. 
 At 25 years tlie corner teeth have become twice as 
 thick as broad. 
 
 Fig. 38. 27 years 
 
40 
 
 At 27 years tlie nippers in the upper jaw are twice as 
 thick as broad 
 
 Fig. 39. 28 years. 
 A± 28 years the middle teeth have the same form. 
 
 Fig. 40. 29 years. 
 
 At 29 years the corner teeth are also twice as thick 
 as broad. 
 
 The foregoing plainly shews, that as long as the 
 teeth retain their proper length, there is no difficulty 
 in discerning the exact age of a horse. 
 
 We will now prove that the age of those horses which 
 have irregular teeth, can also be ascertained with ex- 
 actness. 
 
 We have seen that the teeth shoot up a line every 
 
41 
 
 year, but cannot wear down in the same Jegree, when 
 they stand too far forwards in the mouth. In order to 
 discover the exact age of a horse possessing such teeth, 
 it is only necessary to observe the mark narrowly. 
 
 For instance, suppose the mark shews 8 years, but 
 the teeth are 4 lines too long for that age; it follows 
 that the horse has lived 12 years 
 
 Fig. 41. 20 years. 
 
 Shews a tooth which is 12 lines too long, the mark 
 shews 8 years, but as the tooth has shot up a line 
 each year, and has not worn down, one must add the 
 12 superfluous lines to the 8 years shewn by the mark ; 
 we shall thus arrive at the real a^re of the horse;— 20 
 years. 
 
42 
 
 Fur. 42. 20 vo:ir55 
 
 L^ry 
 
 Represents the same lower jaw of 20 years, viewed 
 from inside. The friction surface shews 8 years, and if 
 as in. 
 
43 
 
 Fig. 43. 
 
 The superfluous length be removed, one ean see the 
 iriction or 20 years. 
 
 Fig. 44. 
 teetli in the lower jaw at 20 years of a-e. 
 
44 
 
 Fig. 45. 
 
 Shews a lower jaw in which the teeth are 10 lines too 
 long. 
 
45 
 
 Fig. 46. 
 
 An inside view of the same jaw shews a mark of 6 
 years, the teeth being however 10 lines too long, its 
 age is 16 years. 
 
 Large horses have naturally large teeth, which pro- 
 trude 1 or 2 lines more above the gums than those of 
 smaller ones; this will easily be percieved in young 
 horses of certain breeds. The other signs remain the 
 same. Their age can therefore be ascertained Avith the 
 same exactness as that of horses of medium size. 
 
 Some breeds, the Spanish for instance, require a longer 
 time to develop than the common horses. The bones 
 appear to be harder, the teeth change some-what later, 
 and appear to wear down more slowly; it sometimes 
 happens that such horses after their 5th year, appear 1 
 and sometimes 2 years younger than they really are, 
 this does not however detract from their value, for these 
 horses are usually very .strong, and 1 year more or less 
 in their age, is of no consequence. 
 
46 
 
 In countries where the soil is very rich, and horses 
 grow np very voluptuously, great deceptions are some- 
 times practised, with young horses. They are made 
 to appear older than they really are, in order, that they 
 may the sooner be brought into market. For this pur- 
 pose the incisors are generally forcibly knocked out a 
 year sooner than they would change of themselves. 
 
 A foal of 2 years old, if wanted for work, is not so 
 valuable as one of 3 years, and one of 3 is not worth 
 so much as one of 4 years. Should deception be suspected 
 however, one can soon convince oneself by a careful 
 scrutiny of the remaining teeth. For instance if the nippers 
 have changed and the inner edges of the corner teeth, 
 as in Fig. 5 have not yet come into contact, it is evi- 
 dent that the foal is but a year old. Thus the trick can 
 easily be discovered. 
 
 When the foal teeth are forcibly broken out, the new 
 horse teeth soon force themselves through. 
 
 If the reader however has once made himself thorough- 
 ly acquainted with the rules we have given, he can de- 
 tect any intended fraud. 
 
 On the other hand there are cheats who strive for 
 their own purposes to make the horses appear younger 
 than they are, by burning in artificial marks, this is how- 
 ever also easy of detection. 
 
 Observe Fig. 10 around the mark you will perceive an 
 enamel. By examining a nipper of 16 years it will be 
 percieved that the enameled circle of this tooth is so 
 minute, that by burning a mark as large as that in the 
 nipper of a four year old, the entire enamel would be 
 disturbed. Besides the 16 year old tooth is not suffici- 
 ently broad to admit of such mark. ■ 
 
 There are also crib-biters, which* by wearing out their 
 front teeth, appear a few years older than they really are. 
 The age of these can be ascertained however by their 
 corner teeth, which are very seldom injured ; should this 
 
47 
 
 be the case however, then as many lines as are wanting to 
 make the teeth the natural length must be deducted; and 
 the horse is as many years younger, as the teeth are lines 
 too short. 
 
 The front teeth are also frequently worn away earlier 
 than usual, when horses have been fed from their youth 
 upon unshelled Cornears. 
 
 The age of mules cannot be ascertained with the same 
 accuracy as that of horses. After their 8th year they 
 usually appear younger than they are. Their bones are 
 much harder and their length of life frequently double 
 that of the horse. 
 
 In all the works which have hitherto been published 
 on this subject, the writers have only explained the vari- 
 ations in the teeth, thoroughly, until the 8th year, after 
 which period their descriptions are any thing but clear, in 
 fact evidently guess work. 
 
 By a thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology, 
 as well as for years, having attentively examined both 
 living and dead horses, the author has convinced himself, 
 that the age of a horse may be ascertained with the same 
 accuracy after it has attained its 8th year, as before. 
 
 Should this work prove a useful guide, to its readers 
 the author will feel himself richly compensated. 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 
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