164 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



by certain vessels emanating from the brain, called 

 absorbents, and bone is deposited in its stead. In 

 all the flat bones, such as those of the head, this 

 deposit takes place from the centre, from which 

 radiations, or rays of bone shoot forth in all direc- 

 tions. Therefore it is evident, that by having so 

 many bones, there are so many more centres of 

 radiation, and consequently the formation of bone 

 is carried on so much more rapidly, and becomes 

 perfected at the time when the necessities of the 

 animal require it. But when the foal is born, this 

 process is not completed, as the edges of the bones 

 remain somewhat soft and pliant; so that in parturi- 

 tion they yield a little, and by overlapping each 

 other render the birth more easy, and save the 

 parent much pain, and contribute materially to the 

 safety of the foal ; and indeed without a change 

 in the form of the head, from this compression 

 and yielding of the bone of which it is composed, 

 the animal could not be born. 



a. The occipital bone, or bone of the hinder part of the head. 

 3, /;. The parietal bones, or walls of the skull. 



c, c. The temporal bones, or bones of the temple. 



d, d. The temporal fossae, or pits above the eye. 



The age of a horse is pretty well manifested by 

 the depth of these fossae. At the back part of the 

 eye there is a cushion of fatty matter on which 

 the eye rests, and revolves without friction. In 

 aged horses this substance decreases, and con- 

 sequently the eye sinks and the pit above it 

 deepens. To deceive the unwary, dishonest dealers 

 puncture the skin of the pit, and with a blow-pipe fill 

 up what it has lost in substance with air. This 

 puffed-up skin will continue for many hours. The 



