THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 41 



scrotum; in their downward course, they pass throug"h a slit or small 

 opening at the back part of the muscles of the belly, where they 

 are attached to the under part of the hip bones. These slits or 

 openings are known as the inguinal rings, these rings can be felt 

 in the horse by pressing the fingers well up into the groins. 

 The descent of the testicle is an important point to be remembered 

 for, if it does not come down into the scrotum he is then 

 called what is known as a rig or ridgeling horse, in this 

 case the testicle is not found in the scrotum. At the front part of 

 the testicle is found a small ridge called the globus major, and at 

 the back of it is found another small ridge called the globus minor. 

 Passing between these two ridges there is another well marked ridge 

 called the epididymis, these points can be easily seen upon exam- 

 ining the testicle after the animal is altered or castrated. The 

 substance of the testicle is made up of small glands and fine tubes, 

 these tubes, as they pass towards the back of the testicle, form 

 into larger tubes and finally unite to form one tube, which is used 

 to carry the semen up the back part of the spermatic cord, which 

 these glands in the testicle secrete. 



Spermatic Cords, or the cords of the testicles, are attached 

 above to the inguinal rings or openings mentioned before, they 

 are about five or six inches long and have the testicles attached to 

 them below. In each cord is found a small m.uscle which goes by 

 the name of the spermatic muscle, the rest of the cord is made up 

 of the spermatic artery, veins and nerves. Running up at the 

 back of these cords is found a tube about the size of a straw, 

 which upon examination is found to be hard and has a small 

 opening passing up through the centre where the semen passes up 

 through it. This tube is called the vas deferens. Around the 

 spermatic cords and testicles is a serous membrane, one laver 

 being attached to the testicle and cord, while the other is closelv 

 attached around the inside of the scrotum or bag. In this mem- 

 brane are small glands which secrete an oily lluid to lubricate 

 the parts, so as not to cause friction when they are jolted around 

 in the scrotum, this fluid will be noticed to fly out as soon as the 

 scrotum is cut. This is an important point to remember, because 

 sometimes from a slight injury the glands will secrete a large 

 amount of this fluid mentioned, which causes the scrotum to look 

 large and swollen, this disease is k:io\vn as hydrocele or water in 

 scrotum or bag. 



