THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 11 



dentata. This is the bone which allows the head to turn in any 

 direction, hence it is sometimes called the axis or pivot of the 

 neck. Between these two bones, on the upper side, is the only 

 place where the spinal cord is not covered with bone — a spot 

 about the size of a, twenty-five cent piece. Here is where the 

 operation of pithing- is performed in destroying- the horse. It is 

 done by running a sharp instrument, such as a knife, fairly in the 

 centre of the neck about four inches behind the ears, and passing^ 

 in this hole throug^h the coverings of the spine into that very vital 

 org-an called the spinal cord, causing death instantaneously. The 

 next four bones receive no name, and are about the same in size 

 and length. The last, or seventh bone is only about one-half the 

 length of the preceding ones and receives no special name. 



DORSAL OR BACK-BONES. 



In considering these bones we find eighteen in number. The 

 chief points of interest about them are the height of the 

 spines on the upper part of the bones. These large spines form 

 the withers of the horse, as you will notice in the skeleton. On 

 either side of these bones we find the ribs attached, eighteen pairs 

 corresponding with the number of bones in this region. 



LUMBAR OR SMALL-OF-BACK BONES. 



In considering these bones we find six in number, and they 

 are situated immediately above the kidneys. 



SACRAL OR RUMP BONES. 



In considering these bones we find five in numbe*- in the 

 young horse, which become united and form one in the adult. 

 These are situated between the upper hip bones and help to form 

 the rump of the horse. Beneath these bones the bladder is situated. 



COCCYGEAL OR TAIL BONES. 

 In considering these bones we find eighteen in number. The 

 principal points of interest in these are, they become smaller 

 as they proceed towards the point of the tail. 



HIP OR PELVIC BONES. 



These are three in number, viz.: Ilium, ischium, and pubis. 



The largest is the ilium, passing upwards and forwards, the outer 



part of it forming the pin of the hip or outer angle. The back or 



posterior part of this bone forms a third of the articular surface of 



