THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 23 



operation of pithing is performed in destroying the horse. It 

 is done by running a sharp instrument, such as a knife, fairly 

 in the center of the neck, about four inches behind the ears, 

 and passing in this hole through the coverings of the spine 

 into that very vital organ 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 preced- 

 ing ones and receives no special name. 



6. Dorsal or Back-Bones. — Dorsal bones are eighteen in 

 number. The chief point of interest about them is the height 

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

 spines form the withers of the horse, as will be noticed in the 

 skeleton. On either side of these bones the ribs are at- 

 tached, eighteen pairs corresponding with the number cf 

 bones in this region. 



7. Lumbar or Small-of-Back Bones. — These bones are 

 six in number, and they are situated immediately above the 

 kidneys. 



8. Sacral or Rump Bones. — There are five of these bones 

 in the young horse. They 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. 



9. Coccygeal or Tail Bones. — These are eighteen in num- 

 ber. The principal point of interest in these is that they 

 become smaller as they proceed towards the point of the tail. 



10. Hip or Pelvic Bones. — These are three in number, 

 viz.: Ilium, ischium, and pubis. The largest is the ilium, 

 passing upward and forward, 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 the round 

 joint and also helps to form the upper wall of the pelvic or 

 hip cavity. The ischium passes back from the round joint 

 and helps to form the floor of the pelvic cavity. It can be 

 felt in a horse that is poor in flesh, projecting out below the 

 tail on each side. The pubis, the smallest of the three bones, 

 is situated immediately in front of the ischium bone and 

 forms the floor of the pelvic cavity. 



11. Sternum or Breast Bone. — This bone is small and 

 short in the horse and is situated on the lower side of the chest 



