318 REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



C C, Cervical vertebrae. T, Tarsal bones, or bones of the hock. 



D D, Dorsal vertebra?. U, Metatarsal bones of the hind-leg. 



E E, Lumbar vertebrae. V, Phalangeal bones, or bones of 



A, Bones of the cranium. fetlock, foot, &c. 



B, Bones of the face. K, Scapula, or shoulder-blade. 

 H, Sacrum, or rump-bone. L, Humerus. 



JJ, Bones of the tail. M, Fore-arm. 



E F, Ribs. N, Carpal Bones. 



G, Sternum, or breast-bone. O, Metacarpal bones. 



I, Os innominatum. P, Phalangeal bones 

 d, Osfemoris, thigh-bone or haunch- 1. Withers. 



bone. 2. The elbow. 



S, Bones of the leg. 3. Point of the hock. 



R, Patella, or stifle-bone. 4. Hip-bone. 



The series of bones to which the others may be regarded as attached, is the 

 vertebral or spinal column. This, in man, is erect, forming what is termed 

 the back-bone. It is a pillar of bones, flexible and of great strength, serving to 

 support the head and chest. These bones or vertebrae are jointed or articu- 

 lated together, with a certain power of motion, and firmly bound by strong 

 cartilage. Each vertebra has a cavity passing through its centre, so that, when 

 all are united together, there is a continued canal passing along the whole 

 column. It is within this canal that the continuation of the medullary part of 

 the brain, or spinal marrow, is enclosed. Radiating from this, and passing 

 through foramina or holes in the column, are nerves destined to give sensation 

 and motion to the muscles and other organs. 



In man the number of vertebrae is 24, in the horse 30; in man the column is 

 erect, in the horse it is horizontal, to suit the position of a quadruped. 



Of the vertebra?, those peculiar to the neck are termed cervical; those belong- 

 ing to the back, and from which the ribs arise, dorsal; those belonging to the 

 loins, lumbar. In man there are 7 cervical, 12 dorsal, and 5 lumbar vertebrae; 

 in the horse there are 7 cervical, 18 dorsal, and 5 lumbar vertebrae. 



These vertebrae have each projections termed processes, which are designed 

 for the attachment of muscles, and of which the upright are termed spinous 

 processes. In the horse, the spinous processes next the neck are very large, 

 forming what are called withers. To them are attached muscles and ligaments 

 which support and give motion to the head and neck; and large withers are 

 connected with the power of active motion in the horse. 



Jointed or articulated to the first of the cervical vertebrae is the head, con- 

 taining the brain and the principal organs of sense. The bones of the head are 

 divided into two classes, those of the cranium or skull, and those of the face. 

 The bones of the cranium are distinct pieces, firmly united, and many of them 

 dovetailed into each other, and forming a cavity fitted in the happiest manner 

 for the protection of the vital organ within. The manner in which the cra- 

 nium is articulated to the upper vertebra, is analogous to that in which the ver- 

 tebrae themselves are united together. The cranium may be said to be itself a 

 vertebra, its parts being merely expanded and enlarged so as to form a cavity 

 for containing the brain. 



In man the cranium and face are round: in the horse they are elongated, in 

 order that the mouth may collect food. The head in man is nicely poised upon, 

 the summit of a column: in the horse, in order that it may reach the ground, 

 it is pendant. In the horse, its great weight is supported by powerful muscles, 

 and by a strong ligament extending from the head to the spine. It is for the 

 better attachment of this ligament and muscles, that the withers of the horse 

 are large: in man withers are not required. 



The prehensile organ of the horse being the month, and not a.s in man the 

 hands, the length of the cervical vertebrae must be so much greater in the 

 horse than in man, that he may be able to reach the ground and collect his 

 food. Although the number of cervical vertebrae in the horse is the same as 

 in man, their length in the horse is much greater. 



The spinal column becomes larger towards the base, when it gradually 

 diminishes. This portion of it forms what is termed the sacrum: the bones of 

 it are not jointed, but united so as to form one bone. The vertebral canal is 



