68 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



intermaxillary space, is covered with long and abundant hairs, which 

 it is the custom to singe, cut, or extrac.t. This practice is called to 

 make the jaw or the hairs of the jaws. 



Diseases and Blemishes. These are osseous tumors, the result of blows 

 which the animal has received or of injuries which are inflicted by the extrem- 

 ities of the shafts. Again, we may find enlargements of the bone sometimes 

 accompanied by necrosis and fistulae emitting an extremely disagreeable odor. 

 The latter lesions are caused by diseases of the inferior molar teeth. Finally, 

 this region may be the seat of salivary fistulae upon the course of the excretory 

 canal of the parotid gland, most frequently on a level with the point where the 

 duct is inflected around the maxillary fissure. 



These diverse alterations have a great tendency to assume a chronic 

 form, and are always followed by deformities quite persistent, which 

 blemish the animals for a more or less long period. 



C. The Chin (Fig. 19). 



Situation; Limits; Anatomical Base. Symmetrical and 

 situated in front of the intermaxillary space and the branches of the 

 lower jaw, and behind the tuft of the chin, the chin, upon which rests 

 the curb of the bit, corresponds almost to the point of union of the 

 two branches of the maxillary bone. The symphysis is manifested 

 externally by a slight crest, a gutter, or a simple convex surface. 



These diverse conditions, with difficulty appreciated from the exte- 

 rior, have caused this region to be named round or sharp, two confor- 

 mations upon which buyers also attach too much importance. The 

 impression of a portion of the harness or of the curb upon the skin 

 depends much less upon the anatomical disposition of the parts than 

 the degree of natural sensibility of the subject. It is easy to moderate 

 the action of the curb by protecting the latter with a leather cushion 

 and by regulating the quantity of traction exercised on the reins ac- 

 cording to the sensibility of the animal. 



Denudations and wounds are the ordinary consequences of immod- 

 erate pressure sustained by the chin of very irritable horses, as from 

 the curb, or other traumatisms. There are also blemishes of the 

 chin, which are not without interest in that which concerns special 

 utilizations of the animal. 



