REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 3^9 



continued into the sacrum, and sends forth nerves to the lower extremities. In 

 man the sacrum is terminated by 4 or 5 little bones united together: in the 

 horse these bones extend to a greater length, forming the caudal vertebrae or 

 tail. 



Rising from the several dorsal vertebrae are the ribs. These bones are flat, 

 bent, and elastic, and terminate in cartilage. Some of them are united directly 

 to the sternum or breast-bone; these are termed true or sternal ribs. Some are 

 not united directly to the sternum; these are termed false or asternal ribs. In man 

 the number of dorsal vertebrae and consequently of ribs, is 12 on each side. In 

 the horse the number of dorsal vertebrae, and the number of ribs accordingly 

 on each side, is 18, of which 9 are true ribs and joined to the sternum, and 9 

 asternal ribs. The other bones connected with the spinal column are those of 

 the pelvis, to which is attached the bone of the thigh. Connected with the 

 spinal column also by muscles, is the scapula or shoulder-blade, to which is 

 attached the humerus. 



The pelvis is at the lower part of the spinal column in man, and at the 

 hinder part in the horse. It is a large irregular-shaped cavity, formed by the 

 ossa innominata and other bones. It is within this cavity that the foetus is 

 developed and nourished. A prominent bone of the pelvis is the ilium or hip- 

 bone. 



Into a cavity of the os innorainatum on each side is inserted the os femoris 

 or thigh-bone, which is the largest bone of thebody. The thigh in man is alto- 

 gether detached from the trunk; in the horse it forms apparently a part of it. 

 This is required by the different position of the animal, and the bone has suffi- 

 cient facility of motion in the position in which it is placed. In man it stands 

 vertical; in the horse it is bent, which prevents the animal from being raised 

 too high above the ground. In this position, too, he has a greater power of 

 progression. When he moves the limb backwards it describes a large arch of 

 a circle. Now, were the thigh placed perpendicular to the ground, it will ap- 

 pear from the figure that, when stretched backwards, it would describe a 

 smaller arch of a circle. Its length, therefore, combined with its bent posi- 

 tion, conduces to the vast power of progression of the animal: and the compara- 

 tive power of motion in horses is very much dependent upon the length of this 

 part. This greater length of the thigh-bone, again, is indicated to the eye by 

 the distance from the hip-bone backwards, forming what are termed the hind- 

 quarters. Jockeys, accordingly, always look to the size of the quarters as con- 

 nected with the rapid power of progression of the horse. 



Next in order are the bones of the leg, consisting first of the patella or stifle 

 bone, corresponding with the pan of the knee in man, and next of the two bones, 

 the tibia and fibula, united in the horse, and forming the leg properly so called, 

 and corresponding with the leg in man. The leg of the horse should be long 

 in proportion to the lower parts of the limb. 



The further bones of the limb correspond with the bones of the heel, the foot, 

 and the toes of man. The bones of the heel in man are termed the tarsal bones; 

 of the foot, the metatarsal bones; and of the toes, the phalangeal bones. In man 

 the tarsal bones are in number 7, the metatarsal 5, and the phalangeal 14. In 

 the horse, the bones corresponding to the tarsal, metatarsal, and phalangeal 

 bones, are likewise, as in man, many; and this number of bones adds to the 

 flexibility and elasticity of the limb. 



Man, however, standing erect, requires a large pediment of support. The 

 bones of the foot therefore are made to rest upon tne ground. But the horse, 

 having four limbs of support, does not require this large pediment. The me- 

 tatarsal bones of the horse are therefore extended, in order to give length to the 

 limb. The phalangeal bones form the fetlock and other parts, giving to them 

 flexibility and elasticity; and the lowermost only of the phalangeal bones are 

 brought into contact with the ground. These last are not separate as in man, 

 but together, and defended with horn. The horse, therefore, may be said to 

 stand on his toes; and if any person will attempt to walk on all-fours, he will 

 find that the toes will touch the ground, while the bones of the foot will be 

 raised up. 



The bone of the horse termed the point of the hock, corresponds with the 

 great bone of the heel in man. To this is attached powerful muscles; and the 

 size of this bone, therefore, as giving space to the attachment of muscles, is 



