122 THE SENSORIAL FUNCTION. 



This custom of cutting the ears of the horse originated, to its shame, in Great 

 Britain, and for many years was a practice cruel to the animal, depriving him of 

 much of his heauty ; and so obstinately pursued, that at length the deformity be- 

 came in some hereditary, and a breed of horses born without ears was produced. 

 Fortunately for this too-often abused animal, cropping is not now the fashion. 

 Some thoughtless or unfeeling young men endeavoured, a little while ago, again 

 to introduce it, but the voice of reason and humanity prevailed*. 



This cartilage, the conch or shell, is attached to the head by ligaments, and 

 sustained by muscles, on which its action depends. It rests upon another carti- 

 lage, round without, and irregular within, called the annular, ring-like, cartilage, 

 and conducting to the interior of the ear; and it is likewise supported and moved 

 by a third small cartilage, placed at the fore part of the base of the conch, and 

 into which several muscles arc inserted. 



The ear is covered by skin thinner than in most other parts of the body, and 

 altogether destitute of fat, in order that it may not be too bulky and heavy, and 

 may be more easily moved. Under the skin lining the inside of the cartilage are 

 numerous glands that secrete or throw out a scaly white greasy matter, which 

 may be rubbed off with the finger and is destined to supple this part of the ear 

 and to keep it soft and smooth. Below this are other glands which pour out a 

 peculiar, sticky, bitter fluid the wax probably displeasing to insects, and 

 therefore deterring them from crawling down the ear and annoying the animal, 

 or by its stickiness arresting their progress. 



The internal part of the conch is covered with long hair which stands across 

 the passage in every direction. This likewise is to protect the ear from insects, 

 that can with difficulty penetrate through this thick defence. The cold air 

 is likewise prevented from reaching the interior of the ear, and the sound is 

 moderated, not arrested penetrating readily but not violently and not striking 

 injuriously on the membrane covering the drum of the ear. Can these purposes 

 be accomplished, when it is the custom of so many carters and grooms to cut 

 out the hair of the ear so closely and industriously as they do ? The groom 

 who singes it to the root with a candle must either be very ignorant or very 

 brutal. It can scarcely be accomplished without singeing the ear as well as the 

 hair. Many a troublesome sore is occasioned by this ; and many a horse, that was 

 perfectly quiet before, rendered difficult to handle or to halter, and even disposed 

 to be otherwise vicious, from a recollection of the pain which he suffered during 

 the absurd and barbarous operation. 



The sound collected by the outer ear, passes through the lower or annular 

 ring-shaped, cartilage, and through irregularities which, while they break and 

 modify it, convey it on to another canal, partly cartilaginous and partly bony, 

 conducting immediately to the internal mechanism of the ear. This canal or 

 passage, is called the external auditory passage, and at the base of it is placed, 

 stretching across it, and closing it, a thick and elastic membrane, membrana 

 tympani, called the membrane of the drum. This membrane is supplied with 

 numerous fibres, from the fifth pair, or sensitive nerve of the head, for it is 

 necessary that it should possess extreme sensibility. 



Between this membrane and a smaller one almost opposite, leading to the 

 still interior part of the ear, and on which the nerve of hearing is expanded, 

 are four little bones, united to these membranes, and to each ether. Their 



* Professor Grognier, in his excellent work, thoughts that are passing through his mind 



" Precis d'un Cours d'Hygiene Veterinaire," the passions which agitate him, and, especially, 



speaking of this abominable custom, says, the designs which he may be meditating, and 



" And thus the English completely destroy or which it is often of great importance to learn, 



disfigure two organs which embellish the head in order to guard against the danger which 



of the most beautiful of all animals, and may be at hand." 

 which, by their various motions, indicate the 



