66 



THE HORSE, 



case with every art. A carpenter could not, without this, describe with 

 precision and clearness the different tools in use, nor could he describe the 

 different operations to be performed, without inventing a particular language 

 adapted to his purpose, and whereby he is enabled to express in one word 

 what would otherwise only be accomplished by a long sentence. It is the 

 same with anatomy, except that the names and signs have principally been 

 adopted from the Latin and Greek, inasmuch as those languages are usually 

 known to scientific men in all countries. This new language becomes one 

 common to all men pursuing the same science. We shall as we go on 

 e.x plain the meaning of all the words so adopted, and a very little attention 

 will enable the reader to master them, and it will require little tliouglit 

 So be convinced of the advantage, in respect of clearness and certainty 

 derived from their use. 



DESCRirTION OF THE HEAD. 



We begin with the head, containing the brain, and the most important 

 organs of sense. 



The head may be divided into two parts, the skull and the face. The 

 bones which compose the skull or cranium, and which contain and protect 

 the brain, are nine in number: two frontal, a a — two parietal, c c — two 

 temporal, d d — the occipital, g — the ethmoid and the sphenoid. The two 

 lalter lie principally at the base of the skull, and are not seen in this cut, 

 but will be found delineated in figs, k and /, page 68. These nine bones 

 are separate in the foal at an early period of its existence ; but soon after 

 the birth they are firmly united together by what anatomists call sutures, 

 and so firm is the union, that a fracture will occur in any other part more 

 readily than over a suture. 



a a The frontal bones, or bones of the forehead. 



6 6 Tlie* supra-orbital foramina, or holes above the orbit, 

 tlirough which pass out the nerves and blood-vessels 

 supplying- the forehead. The small hole beneath (of 

 which in many horses there are several) receives ves- 

 sels wliich dip into and supply the bone. 



c c The parietal bones, or walls of the skull. 



d d The temporal bones, or bones of the temples. 



e e The zyg^omatic, or yoke-shaped arch, 



^yThe temporal fossa, or pit above the eye. 

 g The occipital bone, or bone of the hinder part of the 

 head. 



h h The orbits, containing and defending the eye. 



i i The lachrymal bones, or tear-bones. 



j j The nasal bones, or bones of the nose. 



k k Tlie molar, or cheek bones. 



I I The superior maxillary, or that portion of the upper jaw 

 containing the molar teeth or grinders. 



ni;n. The infra-orbital foramen, a hole below the orbit, 

 through which pass branches of nerves and blood- 

 vessels to supply the lower p art of the face. 



n n The inferior maxillary, the lower part of the upper jaw- 

 bone, a separate bone in quadrupeds, containing the 

 incisor or cutting teeth, and the upper tushes at the 

 point of union between the superior and inferior 

 maxillaries. 

 o The upper incisor or cutting teeth. 



p The openings into the nose, with the bones forming the 

 roof of the palate. 



