5. _For the security of the purchaser of a horse not connected with the turf, the teeth are a sufficient guard_, and their indications, when properly understood, may be confidently acted upon. This opinion is put forth after a matured consideration of the subject, and probably there is no dealer who would dissent from the decision at which the author has arrived. The purchasers possibly may, on reflection, see less reason to be satisfied, because the teeth would, perhaps, in many instances, seem to favour the interest opposed to theirs. Let the matter, however, be deliberately weighed, and perhaps it may be found that neither party is likely to gain considerably, or to be seriously injured. In ordinary trade, the word of the seller is not much regarded; but in horse transactions, the assertion of the dealer is never received. One source of evidence is therefore discarded, and some other must be sought. Now, where horses are concerned, even the oaths of men appear to be of little force; "hard" swearing is expected in every business of that nature, and such expectation almost disqualifies all those persons to whose testimony the dealer could appeal. Let it be remembered that it is not the dealer who refuses to give evidence, or to adduce it; but the purchaser, who is prejudiced against accepting it. This act on the purchaser's part limits the proof he might demand; for as attestation is rejected by him, not denied to him, he is by his conduct left without cause of complaint, and bound to seek the evidence which he will accept. Such evidence he looks for in the mouth of the animal, and is seldom deceived when capable of interpreting it. The teeth, in fact, are the only testimony that his caution leaves him to decide upon; and it will be hereafter shown, that even when the teeth are early in their development, the purchaser is not virtually wronged. All men, however, seek to arm themselves by suspicion, when dealing in horse-flesh; and the tricks that are played upon the teeth, rise immediately to the mind. Such tricks certainly are played, but they are assuredly more talked about than practised. There is a superstitious idea afloat, that breeders can make horses appear of any age they please, by torturing the mouths of the poor animals. The folly of such a belief will be exposed in another part of this work; it is sufficient for the present to state, that the credulity of the public in this matter has no foundation. A colt cannot be made by any barbarity to look like a horse; and an old horse cannot be forced to exhibit the mouth of a colt. That attempts are made to disguise the teeth, and that such attempts occasionally impose upon the buyer, is not denied; but all of such practices are shallow in the extreme, and so easily detected, that the person deceived by them is not an object of pity. If people will presume to judge before they have learnt to recognize, their temerity is more to be blamed than its consequence is to be commiserated.