HORSESHOEING 



PART I. 



CHAPTER I. 

 THE GROSS ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 



The supporting structure of the horse's body is the bony 

 framework or skeleton (Fig. 1, page 18). We distinguish in 

 the skeleton the bones of the head, trunk, and limbs. 



The bones of the head are numerous and, excepting the 

 lower jaw, are solidly united with one another. In general, we 

 distinguish in the head only the upper and lower jaws (1 andl'). 

 Both form various cavities ; for example, the cranial cavity, in 

 which the brain lies, the orbital cavities (eye-sockets), the nasal 

 passages, and the mouth. Besides, the teeth are set in the jaws. 



The trunk comprises the bones of the spinal column, thorax, 

 and pelvis. 



The spinal or vertebral column (2 to 6), which bears the 

 head at its anterior end, is the chief support of the entire 

 skeleton. It consists of from fifty-two to fifty-four single and 

 irregular bones called vertebrae, placed in the upper part of the 

 median vertical plane of the body. Each vertebra, vnth the ex- 

 ception of those of the tail (coccygeal or caudal vertebrae), is 

 traversed by a large opening called the vertebral foramen. The 

 vertebrae are placed end to end in a row, and through them runs 

 a continuous large canal called the vertebral or spinal canal, in 

 which lies the spinal cord. The horse has seven cervical, 

 eighteen dorsal, six lumbar, five sacral, and sixteen to eighteen 

 2 17 



