ANATOMY OF THE NOSE. J \t 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE ANATOMY AND DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND LIOIIIH. 



We now proceed to a description of the face of the horse, so called 'P 

 contradistinction from the upper part of the head, containing the braiu. 

 The nasal bones, or bones of the nose (j j, page 66, and a, p. 68), are con- 

 nected with the frontal bones above, and with the lachrymal, i i, and the 

 bones of. the upper jaw, 1 1, on either side; they are united together by a 

 plain suiure, which is a continuation oi^ the frontal, and they terminate in a 

 point at the nostril (f, p. 63). They are rounded and arched above, 

 because they are exposed to occasional violence and injury, vviiich the 

 arch-form will enable them best to resist ; and at the base of the arnh, where 

 the main strength should be, they are overlapped by the upper javv'bone, as 

 we have described the temporal bone overlapping the base of the parietal. 

 These bones form a principal part of the face ; and the length, or shortness, 

 and the character of the face depend upon them. The largeness and length 

 of these bones constitute the striking ditference between the head of the cart- 

 horse and of the blood-horse. 



In some horses, this arch is more than usually developed, and there is, 

 beside, a prominence or increased archedness about half-way down the nasal 

 bones. These horses are said to have Roman noses, because this arch of 

 the nose distinguishes the profile of some of the most celebrated of the 

 ancient Romans. We cannot say that the breed of horses in which the 

 Roman-nose usually occurs, possesses superior sagacity or courage ; they 

 are generally easy, good-tempered horses, excellent feeders, and hardy con- 

 stitutioned, but possessing little blood. Many thorough-bred liorses have a 

 peculiarity the reverse of the Roman-nose. There is a depression or hollow 

 about the middle of the nasal bones. Although this be a characteristic of 

 breeding, it often accompanies an uncontrollable and vicious temper. 



These bones form the roof of an important cavity (see a, p. 68). The 

 sides are constituted above by the nasal bones, and, lower down, by the 

 upper jaw-bones [superior maxil/wies), while plates from these latter bones 

 project and compose the palate, which is both the floor of the nose, and the roof 

 of the mouth, (/, p. 68). Above (near fig. 8), not visible in our cut, is a 

 bone called the palatine, although it contributes very little to the formation 

 of the palate. It is the termination of the palate, or the border of the 

 opening where the cavities of the mouth and nose meet (fig. 8). The fron- 

 tal sinuses, h, and large vacuities in the upper jaw-bone, and in the cethmoid, 

 I, and the sphenoid bones, k, communicate with and enlarge the cavity of 

 the nose. 



This cavity is divided into two parts by a thick cartilage (r, p. 68). 

 When we open the nostril, we see the membrane by which/the cartilage, 

 and the whole of the cavity of the nose is lined, and by the colour of which, 

 much more than by that of the lining of the eyelids, we judge of the degree 

 of fever, and particularly of inflammation of the lungs or any of the air 

 passages. By the sore places or ulcerations discovered on this membrane, 

 we likewise determine on the existence of glanders. This cavity is, on 

 either side, occupied by two bones, which, from their being rolled up some- 

 what in the form of a turban, are called the turbinated or turban-shaped 

 bones s s ; part of the cartilage is cut away to display them. They are 

 as thin as gauze, and perforated, like gauze, with a thousand holes. Between 

 them are left suflScient passages for the air. 



