2 OUTLINES OF EQUINE ANATOMY. 



to the animal economy ; the lowest forms of animal life 

 consist of but one organ, a simple cell ; but in ascending 

 the animal scale we find organ after organ superadded, 

 until in the vertebrata we find a most complex collection 

 of mutually dependent organs ; the study of the characters 

 and relative positions of these and the arrangements of the 

 tissues of which they are composed is termed Descriptive 

 Anatomy. 



The examination of healthy organs is Physiological, of 

 diseased, morbid or Pathological Anatomy. A knowledge 

 of anatomy enables the physician to diagnose (distinguish) 

 disease ; the surgeon to diagnose, appreciate the extent of, 

 and apply the best means of remedy for injuries and mal- 

 formations ; and the natural historian to arrange the various 

 beings, and so to suggest those most fit for economic 

 purposes. An anatomist only can duly appreciate the 

 importance of the ever varying points constituting " un- 

 soundness " in the domesticated animals. 



The instruments required in the pursuit of descriptive 

 anatomy of the horse are not numerous. ScaJjoels are the 

 agents used in the separation of the soft organs one from 

 the other, a firm grasp being maintained upon the most 

 pliable by means oi forceps, while, if necessary, the oppos- 

 ing tissue is retained in position by hooks and chains. The 

 cutting instruments require to be kept sharp by means of 

 an oil-stone. In some cases scissors may be substituted for 

 scalpels with advantage, as in clearing arteries and in dis- 

 secting the eye. A hloivjnpe is a useful accessory for the 

 inflation of hollow organs with thin walls ; a saiv is abso- 

 lutely necessary for the proper demonstration of the various 

 bony cavities and of the structures contained in them, 

 while a chisel and hammer serve to raise the separated 

 portions of bone. 



The vessels require to be filled with some substance 

 which will distend them as they naturally exist in the 

 livino- animal, and thus render them more apparent. 

 Arteries and veins for temporary use are generally dis- 

 tended with coloured size or tallow, which solidify as the 

 body cools, but more permanent specimens require coloured 

 wax"; mercury is useful for injecting lymphatics. The 

 substance is forced into the vessels by means of an injecting 

 syringe which has stopcocJcs. These stopcocks require to 

 be introduced into the large arterial trunks, when the 



