192 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



place from the centre, from which radiations, or rays of bone 

 shoot forth in all directions. Therefore it is evident, that 

 bj having so many bones, there are so many more centres 

 of radiation, and consequently the formation of bone is 

 carried /)n so much more rapidly, and becomes perfected at 

 the time when the necessities of the animal require it. But 

 when the foal is born, this process is not completed, as 

 the edges of the bones remain somewhat soft and pliant ; 

 so that in parturition they yield a little, and by overlapping 

 each other render the birth more easy, and save the parent 

 much pain, and contribute materially to the safety of the 

 foal ; and indeed without a change in the form of the head, 

 from this compression and yielding of the bone of which it 

 is composed, the animal could not be born. 



a. The occipital bone, or bone of the hinder part of the head. 



h, b. The parietal bones, or walls of the skull. 



Cy c. The temporal bones, or bones of tae temple. 



J, d. The temporal fossa, or pits above the eye. 



The age of a horse is pretty well manifested by the depth 

 of these fossa. At the back part of the eye there is a 

 cushion of fatty matter on which the eye rests, and revolves 

 without friction. In aged horses this substance decreases, 

 and consequently the eye sinks and the pit above it deepens. 

 To deceive the unwary, dishonest dealers puncture the skin 

 of the pit, and with a blow-pipe fill up what it has lost 

 in substance with air. This puffed-up skin will continue 

 for many hours. The name which is given to this by these 

 unprincipled men is '''puffing the glims!' 

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



The frontal bones are articulated together by a curious and 

 very intricate dove-tailed suture, which gives great strength, 

 so as to defend the upper portion of the brain, which lies 

 immediately below them, from injury. The frontal bones 



