CHAPTER n. 

 ILLUSTRATING THE ANATOMY OP THE HORSE. 



I. FRAMR WORK THE INDEX OP VALUE. II. MASTER THE DETAILS OF THE 



SKELETON. IIL DIVISION OF THE SEVERAL PARTS. IV. COMPAR- 

 ATIVE ANATOMY OF MAN AND THE HORSE.-^-V. ANALYZING THE 



SKELETON. VL THE FOOT. VII. THE HEAD AND NECK. VIIT. 



BONES AND MUSCLES OF THE FRONT LIMBS. IX. THE HIND LIMBS. 



I. Frame Work the Index of Value. 

 A close and cc»mprehensive study of the anatomy and physiology of 

 the animals of the farm, is of the first importance to every person who 

 breeds, rears, or buys them, with a view to profit from their sale. In 

 the case of the horse it is especially necessary that this study be care- 

 fully made, since, in the perfection of the several parts, constituting 

 solidity and fineness of bone, a firm and complete muscular development, 

 large, healthy lungs, and the highest state of normal activity of the 

 digestive organs, lies the real value of this most useful of the servants 

 of man. The owner or purchaser must also know distinctly what an ani- 

 mal is intended for, and should select him with special reference to the ser- 

 vice required, whether it be for special work, for trotting, racing, 

 road-driving, light or heavy draft, or for what is termed general utility. 

 With reference to these several uses the bony structure of the animal is 

 of the first importance, since it is the skeleton upon which all else is built. 

 Without a knowledge of the bones, the situation of the muscles cannot 

 be accurately determined, or their actions, in connection with the several 

 parts, to which they are attached, and especially their action on the liralDS 

 be definitely understood. 



II. Master the Details of the Skeleton. 

 Hence we must first master the details of the bony structure. Next 

 the muscles may be studied, and from this we may easily understand the 

 minute but important action of the several parts as a whole. While the 

 ordinary observer will be altogether misled, in estimating the value of an 

 animal from his outward appearance and movements, he who has 

 carefully studied the physical proportions with the eye of a care- 

 ful anatomist will quickly and accurately understand the true value 

 of the animal from the relation of the several parts one with another. 

 For these habits of accurate observation will readily detect, in the 

 i'iving horse, the true character of the bony structure, and especially 

 of the muscular system, which covers and envelops it. In ordei 

 to make the bony structure plain to the reader it is here shown by 



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