The food, in consequence of the rugged condition of these teeth, would be imperfectly masticated, the organs of digestion would become impaired, and the whole frame would suffer. To prevent this, the molars are fully cut before the temporary tables are cast off, nor do both the tables leave the mouth at the same time. The one on the upper jaw is first shed, and it is not until this has, by attrition, been rendered somewhat flat, so as to present a surface upon, or against which the food can be ground that the permanent molar of the lower jaw is uncovered. The unevenness of the grinding agent becomes now of less moment, since the part over which it is to be moved has been rendered fit for its uses, and since there are other teeth that present all their surfaces, suited for the purposes of mastication. 34. _The manner of examining the teeth_ is simple enough, and yet a few remarks may as well be made upon this part of the subject. To see the incisors, all that is necessary is to part the lips; but many horses are naturally shy when their mouths are touched, and more are rendered so by unnecessary severity in the administration of medicine, or by the tricks to which they may have been subjected. A certain degree of caution is always needed when an animal is strange to the examiner. Where the horse shows a disposition to resist, the groom who attends upon it, if present, should be allowed to handle the mouth, the judge being content to look and form his opinion from what he sees. If the groom be not in the way and the horse seems nervous, let the neck be patted, the face below the eye gently rubbed, then the nose caressed; and when the timid animal is assured that no harm is intended, the lips may be freely drawn asunder: but should the head be snatched away, when the first attempt to see the teeth is made, let the hand immediately release the mouth, rather than endeavour to retain the hold. It is far better to begin again than justify the fears of the horse, by a needless and worse than useless struggle, which in the end will probably be of no avail. After the horse has by forbearance been rendered quiet, while the lips are held asunder, the _shape_, _colour_, _length_, and _obliquity_ of the teeth are noted, and the presence or absence of milk teeth observed. When this is done without violence, the animal will not often offer any opposition to the finger being introduced to feel the tushes, or to the sides of the mouth being separated so as to obtain a fair view of them. The examiner now places himself in front of the horse, and by introducing one finger behind the incisors and getting it under the tongue, will cause the animal to open its mouth, or the tongue may be seized and drawn out of the mouth; and if confidence is established, no opposition will be offered to the jaws being kept for a short time apart. Of this, advantage is taken to observe the arrangement of the teeth, to inspect the tables, and to note the shape or depth of the