10 



MODERN HORSE MANAGEMENT 



[chap. II 



moving these levers, which in turn are connected 

 to a powerful framework of bone. Now these 

 muscles must receive vitality, or else they (or, 

 rather, the cells of which they are composed) 

 will die. This vitality is supplied by various 

 organs ; these are placed within and protected 

 by this framework, which forms an origin for 

 most of the main muscles. Hence the frame- 

 work (known as the carcass) has a twofold 

 function. All the cells in the bones, as well as 

 those in the muscles, have to be supplied with 

 vitality, i.e. food. In fact, all the tendons, liga- 

 ments and other tissues have to be similarly 

 supplied. This cell food is part of the blood, 

 or, rather, is carried by the blood and distri- 

 buted throughout the machine. The blood 

 receives its food by means of various organs that 

 abstract certain chemical products from various 

 animal, vegetable and mineral compounds, 

 which constitute what we call food. 



These organs receive this food, grind it up, 

 convert it chemically into other chemical com- 

 pounds, and pass it on to the blood and lymph, 

 which flow in the arteries and lymph-vessels 

 respectively. The solids not required are passed 

 out. The liquids in the blood not required are 

 collected by the kidneys and passed out. 



Some of the liquids and solids required are 

 collected from the blood by the liver and stored 



up ; the remainder is distributed by the blood 

 to the cells of the machine. 



36. Another necessary food is oxygen. This 

 is collected by the lungs from the air and carried 

 by the blood and distributed to the various cells 

 of the body. The whole of this machine has to 

 be regulated. This is done by a marvellous 

 telegraphic system, known as the nervous system, 

 partly involuntary and partly voluntary in 

 action. The involuntary part regulates the vital 

 mechanism. These telegraphic circuits are con- 

 nected to sub-offices, known as the spinal cord. 

 The whole of these sub-offices are, again, con- 

 trolled by a central station known as the brain. 



Besides its mechanical movements, this 

 machine is given senses, controlled directly by 

 the brain. The central office is strongly pro- 

 tected in a bony case. The whole frame and all 

 the levers are surrounded by a fatty cushion 

 (unless the animal is very thin), and outside this 

 by connective tissue, and finally by a thick skin, 

 from which grows a hairy coat. 



So we may realise that the horse consists of 

 a living machine controlled by a brain— a mind ; 

 and we must always bear in our own mind that 

 the horse's mind (like our own) requires to be, 

 and, in fact, must be, if any success is demanded, 

 developed before it will be able to command the 

 machine over which it rules. {See Chapter III.) 



