CHAPTER XI. 

 THE SKIN. 



THIS is the membrane which covers the body. It con- 

 sists of two layers and is covered with hair, fine or 

 coarse, long or short, according to its position or the 

 purpose which nature intended it to serve. The 

 outer layer is called the epidermis, the inner the dermis. 



1. The Epidermis. — The epidermis is the outer layer. It 

 is not supplied with nerves and blood vessels, its purpose 

 being merely to protect the inner layer. This layer under- 

 goes a continual process of being made up and passing away 

 in dandruff. 



2. The Dermis. — The dermis or true skin lies under the 

 epidermis. It is well supplied with nerves and blood vessels, part 

 of the nerves being the nerves of touch. This fact accounts for 

 its becoming so very sensitive and painful when through injury 

 of any kind the outer layer is scraped off. It is attached to 

 the body by a layer of white tissue known as the areoler 

 tissue, this being that which is cut through when the animal 

 is being skinned. The thickness of the skin varies in differ- 

 ent parts of the body, being thinnest in the under parts. The 

 sweat glands are situated in the dermis. 



3. Hair. — There are three kinds of hair on the horse: — 

 the common, the finest of the three, covers most of the body; 

 that of the mane and tail, coarse and long; and that growing 

 on the muzzle or nose and the lips, long and usually black, 

 known as cat hairs. 



On the inside of the front legs, just above the knee, and 

 on the inside of the hind legs, about the hock, are rough 

 horny spots. These are called chestnuts. 



