290 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIER'^ , 



THE CUTIS. 



This is the true skin, or that portion which is converted 

 into leather, and lies immediately under the scarf-skin. It 

 reaches over every part of the animal. It is attached to 

 the under parts by the cellular membrane, and in some 

 places fits so tensely that it is incapable of motion of any 

 kind. In other situations it is more loose and can be pulled 

 into folds ; about the forehead, the back, and near the hock 

 and pasterns, it is so tightly braced that it is hardly 

 possible to pinch up a part of it between the finger and 

 thumb ; upon the sides of the face, neck, ribs, along the 

 flanks, front of the chest, and upon the arms and thighs, it 

 is more easily folded. In the blood-horse it is thin and 

 highly sensitive ; while in the cart-horse, it is much thicker, 

 and far less sensible ; and is liable to considerable variation 

 in different breeds. The texture of the hair seems to 

 depend in a great measure upon that of the cutis, for we 

 find that of the thick-skinned black horse much coarser 

 than in the racer and other high-bred varieties. It is 

 a rare thing to meet with a black thoroughbred horse. 



The skin is beautifully adapted for giving strength as 

 well as a protection to the muscles ; for we find in those 

 parts that require to be firmly bound together, such as the 

 bones of the knees, the pasterns and tendons of the limbs, 

 it adheres with such tenacity that it cannot be raised from 

 those places ; thus acting the part of a powerful ligature 

 to the parts which are subjected to the greatest degree of 

 stress ; and in those situations where being tight would 

 interfere with the action of the horse, it is loose. 



The cutis is of a strong fibrous texture, very tough, yet 

 supple, elastic, very vascular, and sensitive. Its fibres are 

 curiously interwoven in almost every direction, and so inter- 



