POSTERIOR FACE OF THE HEAD. 65 



Formerly the nostrils were slit to diminish the sound of neighing. 

 The practice is still exercised upon the ass in the Orient. 1 We have 

 several times repeated this operation upon the horse without producing 

 any modification of the sound. The procedure is therefore inadequate. 



To recapitulate : 



1. The nostril should be large and clear. 



2. The mucous membrane, rosy at rest, more or less red after 

 exercise. 



3. The liquid which it discharges, clear and transparent. 



4. The air which is exhaled, inodorous. 



5. Inspiration and expiration should be noiseless. 



CHAPTER III. 



POSTERIOR FACE OF THE HEAD. 



A. The Intermaxillary Space. 



Situation ; Limits ,' Anatomical Base. The intermaxillary 

 space is a symmetrical and triangular-shaped cavity, situated at the 

 posterior face of the head, comprised between the two branches of the 

 inferior maxilla. It is limited above by the throat, below by the chin, 

 and on each side by the borders of the maxillary bone. 



Its anatomical base is the body of the hyoid bone and the 

 muscles which attach to it, the inferior face of the tongue, and the 

 intermaxillary lymphatic glands ; on each side, about an inch from the 

 internal alveolar ridge, and underneath the glands, is the sublingual 

 artery. The skin is fine, covered with hairs ordinarily longer than 

 those in other parts of the body ; the connective tissue is abundant. 



Beauties and Defects. The principal structures which offer 

 themselves for consideration in this region are the lymphatic glands. 

 These should be small and movable without adhering to the surround- 

 ing tissue. It is observed that in all diseases of the nasal sinuses, the 

 nasal fossae, and the mouth, these ganglia become voluminous, painful, 

 more or less adherent, and approach the corresponding branch of the 

 inferior maxillary bone. In glanders they are decidedly adherent to 

 the latter and to the base of the tongue. 



It is not only the inspection of these organs which requires our 



1 Vallon, Cours d'hippologie, t. i. p. 232. 



