_Age of a Horse._—The age of a horse may be discovered by certain marks
in the front teeth of the under jaw until he is eight years old, about
which period they are generally worn out. An experienced person can,
however, judge of a horse’s age pretty nearly by the countenance and
general appearance of the animal, as well as by the length of the teeth
and form of the tushes. Between the second and third year a colt begins
to change his sucking or colt’s teeth, as they are termed, for permanent
teeth, which are larger, and of a different form and colour. The sucking
teeth are small, and of a delicate white colour. When a colt is three
years old, or between the second and third year, he changes his two
front teeth, above and below; between the third and fourth year the two
next are changed; and between the fourth and fifth year the two next, or
corner teeth, are changed. About the end of the fourth year, or a little
later, the tushes appear. Mares have seldom any tushes. At five years
old the horse has a full mouth of permanent or horse teeth, and the
corner teeth are those by which the age is ascertained after that
period: they have a remarkable hollow or shell-like appearance when they
first come up; but by the time the horse has completed his fifth year
they have acquired some size, and look more like the other teeth. There
is a cavity on their upper surface, at this period, of a dark or
blackish colour. At six years old the cavity is much diminished, and at
seven it is still less; at eight it has entirely disappeared, or if any
mark remain, it resembles rather the eye of a bean. The tushes at five
years old have two concavities withinside them, converging upwards, and
terminating in the point of the tooth: at six, one of these concavities
is lost; that is, the one next the grinder: at seven, the other is
diminished, but not quite gone: at eight, it is generally gone, but not
always: afterwards the tush gradually gets more round and blunt. These
are the changes by which the horse’s age is usually determined; but they
are subject to variations, and the only certain method of ascertaining
the age, after six, is by a reference to the breeder. The length of the
teeth is no criterion whatever; nor can the countenance be depended upon
until the horse becomes very old and grey. The marks in the upper teeth
have been thought to indicate the age: the marks in the two front teeth
disappearing at eight, in the two next at ten, and in the corner teeth
at twelve.
* * * * *
The general signs of age, unconnected with the animal’s teeth, are
easily distinguishable. The head grows lean and fine; the features look
more striking; the hollows over the eyes deeper; the eyes themselves
grow irritable, and twinkle; the cheeks become lank; the gums and soft
palate pale and shrunk; the sub-maxillary space is capacious; and grey
hairs make their appearance in various places, more particularly over
the eyes and about the face. In regard to the body generally, it also
makes a more striking display of its shapes, than in any former part of
life; the neck grows thin and fine; the withers grow sharp, and give an
appearance of increased length and obliquity to the shoulder; the back
sinks; the quarters assume a more blood-like turn, and seem to lengthen;
tumors of all kinds, spavins, splents, windgalls, &c. generally become
in part or wholly absorbed; the legs feel sinewy and free from puff,
though they may evince instability and weakness. Now-a-days it is not
often that we meet with horses thus advanced in years; still more rarely
with any that have grown decrepit from age.
* * * * *
The horse, if properly treated, will live to a great age. The best time
of his life is considered to be betwixt that of five and ten years,
although there have been instances where he has proved highly
serviceable until twenty years; and it is on record, that some horses
have wrought till upwards of thirty years old. Mares are said to be aged
at seven years old, and horses at eight.
* * * * *
_The Age of Dogs._—These animals do not, like horses and cattle, present
any exact criterion of their age; nevertheless, attention to the
following appearances will assist us in determining the matter. At about
four years, the front teeth lose their points, and each of them presents
a flattened surface, which increases as the age advances; they likewise
lose their whiteness. In dogs fed much on bones, and in those who
“_fetch and carry_,” these teeth suffer very much, and are sometimes
broken out while the dog is yet young. The holders, or tusks, are also
blunted by the same causes. At seven or eight, the hair about the eyes
becomes slightly grey. Gradually, likewise, a greyish tint extends over
the face; but it is not till ten, eleven, or twelve years, that the eyes
lose their lustre: when they become dim, general decay proceeds rapidly,
though the life of some dogs is extended to fifteen, sixteen, or
seventeen years; and I have seen a mother and son vigorous at twenty and
twenty-one years old. Although such instances as the latter must be
considered as rare, yet even these have been exceeded, if I might depend
on my authority; for I once saw a small French dog, which I was assured
had reached his twenty-fourth year, and which, at the time I saw him,
was still vigorous and lively. I am not aware that much difference
exists between the various breeds, as to the age they arrive at:
spaniels, however, I have observed, are usually long lived; while
terriers, on the contrary, I have seldom observed very old. The usual
life of the dog may be considered as ranging between twelve and fifteen
years: domestication has tended, in some degree, to curtail the period,
but not so much as might have been expected, considering the powerful
operation of artificial habits.—_White_—_Percival_—_Brown_—_Blaine._
AGED, _a._ Old, stricken in years. When horses pass that period of
life when their age is not discoverable by the teeth marks, they
are commonly termed _aged_.
AGISTOR, _s._ Anciently an officer who attended upon the king’s
woods and forest lands, to receive and take in cattle, &c. by
agistment; that is to depasture within the forest, or to feed
upon the pannage, &c. This officer was constituted by letters
patent.
AIM, _v._ To endeavour to strike with a missile weapon.
AIM, _s._ The direction of a missile weapon; the point to which the
thing thrown is directed.
AIR, _v._ To expose to the air; to take the air; to warm by the
fire.
AIR-BLADDER, _s._ A bladder filled with air, and used in lake
fishing to buoy the ends of night lines and mesh nets.