SUPERIOR FACE OF THE BODY. 109 



The diseases of the neck are affections of the skin, as surfeit and mange 

 along its superior border ; inflammation of the jugular veins, thrombi and phle- 

 bitis ; lesions of the cesophagus and trachea ; inflammation of the lymphatic 

 vessels, lymphangitis, followed by knotted indurations along the course of the 

 vessels ; and, finally, lesions of the cervical ligament. 



We cannot enter into long details in this connection without going beyond 

 our province. Suffice it to say, that most of these diseases continue a long time, 

 and are difficult to eradicate, on account of the situation, the structure, and the 

 movements of the region in which they are found. 



The Mane and the Forelock. 



Situation ; Limits. The mane and the forelock are formed by 

 the horse-hairs which occupy the superior border of the neck and 

 extend forward to the superior extremity of the head between the 

 ears, and backward to the withers. 



a. The mane is to the neck of the horse, says H. Bouley (loc. dt.\ 

 what the capital is to the column which it surmounts ; it beautifies the 

 neck by concealing, under its undulating tufts, the angularity of the 

 superior border, and thus gives to the latter a more graceful aspect. 



Its abundance varies according to the race, the sex, the age, the 

 state of the genital organs, and the animal himself. In well-bred 

 horses and in foals it is fine, silky, and not abundant, while it is 

 coarse, long, and stiif in common horses and most plentiful in adults. 

 Thus, it appears more bushy in the stallion than in the gelding or 

 in the mare. This state of the mane and its color denote nothing 

 absolute and have very little signification In this respect the indi- 

 vidual differences are so numerous that all inferences as to the pecu- 

 liarities of the animal's character thus deduced are uncertain as well 

 as delusive. 



We habitually separate, with the scissors, the mane from the fore- 

 lock at the level of the nape of the neck, where the head-stall of the 

 bridle rests. 



The mane is said to be single when all the hairs which compose it 

 fall on one side of the neck, regardless of their length. In saddle- 

 horses it is turned towards the left side so that the rider may seize it 

 in mounting the horse. In the case of draught-horses, which invari- 

 ably occupy the same position relative to the pole, the one attached on 

 the left side (near horse) has the mane on that side ; the one on the 

 right side (off horse) carries it on the right side. This detail, how- 

 ever, is often neglected. 



The mane is double when naturally parted in the middle, one-half 

 falling to the right and the other half to the left side. Thus, being 



