404 ■ TEGUIVJENTAL SYSTEM. 



different parts of thy body under the variations of bidk and shape 

 to which they are, from change of position and condition, con- 

 stantly liable. From what I have been able to learn in my ex- 

 aminations of the cutis, I should say that its structure was sub- 

 stantially the same as that of the human skin. It appears to 

 consist of a dense substratum of cellular tissue, with which are 

 interwoven fibres of a ligamentous nature, in such a manner that 

 innumerable areola, like the meshes of a net, are formed in it: 

 these areolae open, through correspondent pores in the cuticle, 

 upon the external surface, and are for the purpose of transmitting 

 thither bloodvessels and absorbents, of giving passage to the 

 hairs, and of lodging the various emunctories and secretory 

 organs of the skin. 



Organization. — Few organs exhibit more vascularity than the 

 cutis : scarcely can a pin be introduced into any part of it without 

 drawing blood ; but its vessels are small ; indeed, generally speak- 

 ing, so minute that they do not carry red blood. On close in- 

 spection of it, after the cuticle and hair have been removed (by 

 maceration or putrefaction), multitudes of little rounded emi- 

 nences may be seen upon its external surface, with depressions 

 between them : these are readily reddened by injection with size 

 and vermilion, and are ultimately resolvable into vessels, nerves, 

 and cellular substance. In allusion to their shape they may be 

 coWed papil/cB : but they certainly do not deserve the name of 

 papillae nervosce. : they may be regarded as excretories of the per- 

 spirable matter, and as points endowed with great sensibility ; 

 but I do not myself view them in the light of veritable organs of 

 touch. I know it is common, among professional men, to say, 

 that " the lips of the horse are his organ of feeling, performing a 

 like function to the Jingers of a man;" but I feel inclined to 

 think that this assertion is not well founded : the lips most un- 

 questionably have a more delicate sense of feeling than most 

 other parts; but may not this be accounted for by their hairless 

 and thin and fine integument? Of objects in general, the horse 

 takes cognizance by inhalation ; and it is yet doubtful, in my 

 mind, whether he can really be said to be in possession of any 

 veritable organ of touch : if he is, a peculiar nervous structure 

 similar to what endows our fingers, or something like it, ought 

 to exist about the muzzle ; and such, I apprehend, has only yet 

 been verballj/ shewn to us. The sole of the foot is plenteously 

 supplied with neives — no part more so; but no horseman will 

 contend that the animal can feel more through the hoof than the 

 obvious properties of the surface upon which he treads. 



The skin also abounds in absorbents. In places where it is 

 thin, the superficial lymphatics, which are supposed to take their 



