70 THE HORSE. 



horse. It is what anatomists call a foramen — the supra-orbital foramen. 

 It gives passage to the blood-vessels and nerves of the forehead. 



Suppose a line to be drawn across the forehead, from one of these 

 depressions to the other ; on that line, and about half an inch from the 

 centre of it, either on the one side or the other, the frontal sinuses will be 

 found an inch in depth (compare fig. h, pp. 66 and 68). There a perfo- 

 ration may be easily and safely made. A little way above, the i»rain 

 would be endangered, and a Utile below this line, the cavity of the nose 

 would be pierced. Some warm water may then be thrown into this bole, 

 with a common squirt, and it will run out at the nose. If there be matter 

 in the frontal sinuses, or any part of the cavity of the nose, it will appear 

 mixed with the water, and the owner may be assured that the horse is 

 glandered ; but if the water flow uncoloured, or simply mixed with blood 

 or mucus, the horse may be considered as free from this disease. The 

 thick creamy consistence of pus, its sinking in water, and its capability 

 of being perfectly, although not readily mixed with water, will distinguish 

 it sufficiently from the natural running of the nose, which is ropy, lighter 

 than water, and when mixed with it still preserves a kind of stringiness. 

 And this is one of the surest modes of distinguishing between the matter 

 and the natural running of the nose. 



The inner plate of the frontal bone forms a considerable proportion of 

 the roof the cavity which contains the brain (m in the last cut). The 

 bones immediately above the frontal, and extending from the frontal to the 

 poll, are called the parietals, (c c, pp. 66 and 68,) from the Latin word 

 paries, a wall. They are two, united together by a suture when the 

 animal is young, but that suture soon becomes obliterated. They have 

 the occipital, g, p. 66, above, the f rentals, a a, below, and the temporals, 

 d d, on either side. They are of a closer and harder texture than the 

 frontals, because they are more exposed to injury, and more concerned in 

 defending the brain. 



A very small portion only of the parietals is naked, and that is composed 

 of bone even harder than the other part, and with an additional layer of 

 bone rising in the form of a crest or ridge externally. Every other part 

 of these bones is covered by a thick mass of muscle, the tetnporal muscle, 

 which is pi'incipally concerned in chewing the food, but which likewise by 

 its yielding resistance speedily and eflectually breaks the force of the most 

 violent stroke. A blow on the calf of the leg is comparatively disregarded, 

 while one, half as heavy, received on the shin, gives excessive pain. A 

 wool-pack hung over the wall of a fortress, when the enemy is battering 

 to effect a breach, renders the heaviest artillery almost harmless. So the 

 yielding resistance of the temporal muscle affords a sure defence to the brain, 

 however sudden or violent may be the blow which falls on the parietal. 

 These benevolent provisions will not be disregarded by the reflecting mind. 



On the side of the head, and under the parietals, are placed (d d, p. 66) 

 the temporal bones, one on each side. These again are divided into two 

 parts, or consist of two distinct bones ; the petrous portion, so called from 

 its great or stony hardness, and containing the wonderful mechanism of the 

 ear, and the squamous portion, from the appearance of its union with the 

 parietal, overlapping it like a great scale. 



From the latter there projects a portion of bone, e, which unites with the 

 frontal, and forms a strong arch distinctly to be felt at the side of the head 

 immediately above the eye. This arch is designed to protect the upper part 

 of the lower jaw, the motion of which inay very plainly be seen beneath 

 it when the horse is eating. It is very strong, and it ought to be, lest tLe 



