382 THE SKIN AND ITS DISEASES. 



those with thicker hides. It reaches from the poll over the whole of the carcase, and 

 down to the arm before, and the stifle behind. By its contraction the skin is pucker- 

 ed in every direction ; and if it acts strongly and rapidly, the horse is not only ena- 

 bled to shake oft' any insect or fly that may aniwy him, but sometimes to displace a 

 great part of his harness, and to render it diflicult for the most expert rider to keep 

 his seat. This muscle also assists the skin in bracing that part of the frame which 

 It covers, and, perhaps, gives additional strength to the muscles beneath. It is called 

 the panniculus carnosus, or fleshy panicle or covering. 



The skin answers the double purpose of protection and strength. Where it is 

 necessary that the parts should be bound and knit together, it adheres so tightly that 

 we can scarcely raise it. Thus the bones of the knees and the pasterns and the ten- 

 dons of the legs, on which so mucli stress is frequently thrown, are securely tied 

 down and kept in their ])]aces. It is in order to take additional advantage of this 

 binding and strengthening power that we fire the legs of overworked horses, in whom 

 the sinews have begvm to start, and the ligaments of the joints to swell, or be dis- 

 placed. The skin is tight along the muscles of the back and loins, and down the 

 yet more powerful muscles of the quarters ; but in other places it is loosely attached, 

 that it may not interfere with the motions of the animal. About the brisket, and 

 within the arms and at the flanks, it hangs even in folds. 



Of its streno-th we have abundant proof, both in the living and dead animal. Its 

 fibres are interlaced in a most curious and intricate manner, so as, when living, to be 

 scarcely lacerable, and converted into leather after death. 



It is, while the animal is alive, one of the most elastic bodies with which we are 

 acquainted. It not only perfectly adapts itself to the slow growth or decrease of the 

 body, and appears equally to fit, whether the horse is in the plumpest condition oi 

 reduced to a skeleton ; but, when a portion of it is distended to an extraordinary de- 

 gree, in the most powerful action of the muscles, it, in a moment, again contracts to 

 its usual dimensions. 



It is principally indebted for this elasticity to almost innumerable minute glands 

 which pour out an oily fluid that softens and supples it. When the horse is in health, 

 and every organ discharges its proper functions, a certain quantity of this unctuous 

 matter is spread over the surface of the skin, and is contained in all the pores that 

 penetrate its substance ; and the skin becomes pliable, easily raised from the texture 

 beneath, and presenting that peculiar yielding softness and elasticity which experi- 

 ence has proved to be the best proofs of the condition, or, in other words, the general 

 health of the animal. Then, too, from the oiliness and softness of the skin, the hair 

 lies in its natural and proper direction, and is smooth and glossy. When the system 

 is deranged, and especially the digestive system, and the vessels concerned in the 

 nouwshinent of the animal feebly act, those of the skin evidently sympathize. This 

 oily secretion is no more thrown out; the skin loses its pliancy; it seems to cling to 

 the animal, and we have that peculiar appearance which we call hide-bound. This, 

 however, requires attentive consideration. 



We observe a horse in the summer. We find him with a thin, smooth, glossy 

 coat, and his extremities clean and free almost from a single rough or misplaced hair. 

 We meet with him again towards the winter, when the thermometer has fallen almost 

 or quite to the freezing ])oint, and we scarcely recognize him in his thick, rough, 

 coarse, colourless coat,''and his legs enveloped in long, shaggy hair. The health of 

 the horse is, to a certain degree, deranged. He is dull, languid, easily fatigued. He 

 will break into a sweat with the slightest exertion, and it is almost impossible tho- 

 roughly to dry him. He may perhaps feed as well as usual, although that will not 

 generally be the case, but he is not equal to the demands which we are compelled to 

 make upon him. 



This process goes on for an uncertain time, depending on the constitution of the 

 animal, until nature has eftecled a change, and then he once more rallies : but a great 

 alteration has taken place in him — the hair has lost its soft and glossy character, and 

 is become dry and staring. The skin ceases to secrete that peculiar unctuous matter 

 which kept it soft and flexible, and becomes dry and ;■'■ ily ; and the cxhalents on the 

 surface, havino- become relaxed, are frequently pouring out a profuse perspiration, 

 without any apparent adequate cause for it. 



So passes the approach to winter, and the owner complains sadly of the appear- 

 ance of his steed, and, according to the old custom, gives him plenty of cordia' 



