THE CHEST. 



163 



Chapter X. 

 THE CHEST AND ITS CONTENTS-THE HEART AND THE LUNGS. 



Cut of the Chest. 



a Tlie first rib. 



b The cartilages of the eleven hindermost, or false ribs, connected together; and uniting 

 with that of the seventh or last true rib. 



c The breast-bone. 



d The top or point of the withers, which are formed hy the lengthened spinous, or upright 

 processes of the ten or eleven first bones of the back. The bones of the back are 

 eighteen in number. 



e The ribs, usually eighteen on each side ; the seven first united to the breast-bone by car- 

 tilage ; the cartilages of the remaining eleven united to each other, as at b. 



f That portion of the spine where the loins commence, and composed of five bones. 



g The bones forming the hip or haunch, and into the hole at the bottom of which the 

 head of the thigh-bone is received. 



A The portion of the spine belonging to the haunch, and consisting of five pieces. 



i The bones of the tail, usually thirteen in number. 



The form of the chest is of the gTeatest importance. It contains the 

 heart and the lungs ; — the one employed in circulating the blood, and the 

 other in restoring to it the power of supporting hfe ; and on the size and 

 the soundness of these organs, the health and the strength of the ani- 

 mal principally depend. The speed and wind of the horse are most 

 intimately connected with the size of the lungs. In proportion to the 

 quantity of air which they contain, and the less frequent necessity of 

 renewing that air by the act of breathing, will the animal be at his 

 ease, or distressed, when violent exertion is demanded of him. There- 

 fore, one of the first things which the judge of the horse examines, 

 is the capacity of the chest ; and if he finds considerable depth in the 

 girth, and roundness behind the point of the elbow; — the horse carrying 

 what is called a good barrel ; — he is satisfied as to the capacity of 

 the chest. The form of the chest has as much to do with the value of the 

 horse as its capacity. An ox may have a chest ix)unded before as well as 

 behind, and then there will be room enough for the heart to circulate, and 

 the lungs to purify sufficient blood to clothe him with all the muscle and 

 fat he was intended to yield: we require from him no speed, and, therefore, 

 his legs will not fail him, should too much weight be thrown on them, 

 nor will he be disposed to stumble and fall. One principal quality of the 

 horse, however, is his speed ; and if undue weight be thrown before, his 

 legs and feet will be battered, and injured, and worn out by the unavoidable 

 concussion to which they will be exposed in the trot or the gallop ; and 



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