SUPERIOR FACE OF THE BODY. 107 



functions, the neck represents a balance which supports the head at its 

 anterior extremity, and whose displacements carry it upward, down- 

 ward, backward or forward, and to one side, at the will of the animal. 

 Remarkably mobile, from the fact of the numerous pieces which form 

 its osseous base and the powerful muscles which move them, this 

 balance plays the greatest role in most of the attitudes taken by the 

 animal machine in movement. 



We have already seen its influence upon the stability of the situa- 

 tion of the centre of gravity. (See Experiments of Morris and Baucher, 

 page 6.) This influence is still more apparent when the animal 

 rises, lies down, kicks, prances, walks, trots, gallops, leaps over obsta- 

 cles, etc. Under all these circumstances the neck is carried first to the 

 side opposite to that part of the body which is to move first ; then it 

 liberates successively all those parts which will continue this move- 

 ment or terminate it. Its displacements are always proportional to 

 those of the entire body ; very quickly depressed in kicking, elevated 

 in prancing, moving from side to side in walking, and forward and 

 backward in the gallop. AVhen the movement has a ceitain degree 

 of uniformity, and is accompanied with great speed in a straight line, 

 the neck acquires then a relative fixity after being extended forward 

 enough to induce the members to move with a celerity in accordance 

 with the rapidity of the gait. We see this, for example, in the fast 

 trot or the gallop. 



Some imp<jrtant practical deductions can be drawn from these facts, 

 which may be employed in directing horses, as well as in equestrianism. 



If the rider desires the horse to move the left anterior foot when 

 it is in repose, it is only necessary to make traction and urge him 

 forward in such a manner as to increase the weight on the right fore 

 member. If it be desirable to make him change the feet while he is gal- 

 loping, it is only necessary to disburden this or that member by drawing 

 the neck to the opposite side. If the animal be required to leap over 

 an obstacle, the neck is raised to facilitate the half-prance which pre- 

 cedes the leap. If, on the contrary, the object be to prevent him from 

 falling on his knees, the head is forcibly raised in order to prevent the 

 centre of gravity from being displaced outside of the base of support. 



It will be sufficient for us to point out a few instances, in order to 

 demonstrate the importance of the cervical region in the various 

 movements, so that we may be able to apply them intelligently in 

 practice. 



Diseases and Blemishes. — The blemishes of the neck are cicatrices, which 

 have, according to their situation, different significations. We observe them 



