VI EXPLANATION OF THE FRONTISPIECE. 



first and second vertebra, which is not the case with the others. 

 This space, marked A, is protected or covered only by the 

 cervical ligament, a thin slip of muscle and skin ; it is easily 

 penetrated. Butchers are therefore enabled to destroy animals 

 by plunging a sharp knife into it; and, as a wound in this part 

 of the spinal marrow is almost instantly fatal, it has beea con- 

 sidered a better method than the common one of knocking them 

 on the head. The other five cervical vertebrae differ but little 

 from each other, and are very firmly and closely united; they 

 are marked c, d, e, f, g. The dorsal vertebrae, or bones of 

 the back, are eighteen in number. The bodies of these ver- 

 tebrae are much smaller than those of the neck, and have large 

 upright processes or spines, which in the withers are remark- 

 ably high. In fistula of the withers these spinous processes 

 are often diseased. 'Ihe first dorsal vertebra, marked 1, is 

 lower and of a different shape from the rest, and from this to 

 11, the height of the spinous processes may be observed to vary; 

 from this to 18 there is but little difference. Nex-t. to these, 

 from IS to 9.4< are the lumbar vertebras or bones of the loins* 

 25, The five vertebra?, which form the sacrum; these, at an 

 early age, are formed into one bone ; 26 is the coccyx, or bones 

 of the tail, which are about 17 or 18 in number. Having 

 described the vertebrae of the neck and spine, it is proper to 

 observe that they are so constructed and united, as to form a 

 secure canal for the passage of the spinal marrow, which, in 

 its course sends off nerves to different parts of" the body. It 

 is unnecessary to give a- particular description of the ribs ; there 

 are eighteen on each side, the first is marked a, the last r. 

 The sternum or breast-bone is partly composed of cartilage or 

 gristle; 1111, or the fore part, is cartalaginous ; y, 22 22 is 

 bony. The first nine ribs articulate, that is, are joined to the 

 sternum, and are thence named True Ribs; the other nine are 

 united at the lower part with each other and to the first nine 

 by cartilage, and are termed False Ribs. Fig. 2 represents 

 the upper and wide part of the scapula or shoulder blade, and 

 S' its spinous process or ridge : at its lower part, 4, is a project- 

 ing process, from which a powerlxjl muscle arises. 5, The 

 head of the humerus or shoulder-bone, which being inserted in 

 the socket of the shoulder-blade, forms the shoulder-joint. 6, 

 A protuberance at the head of the humerus, in the fore part 

 of which are two grooves. It is this protuberance which forms 

 the projecting part of the horse's shoulder. 7, The curved 

 process of the humerus. 8, The lower part of the humerus, 

 where it articulates with the radius, forming the next joint of 

 the fore limb. It should be observed, that the scapula and 



