THE I\TEGUMEM I /.' 1 M'!'i:\l>A<, T'.-'.t 



prolongation rising np into tho hair-bulb. It furnishes thn hair with 

 nutrition and tho elements of growth. Tho walls of tho follicles of tho 

 lurL'f hairs, or tentacula, which garnish the lips of the Horse, or bristle from 

 those of the Cat, are provided with nervous ramifications which endow theso 

 appendages with a high degree of sensibility, and enable them to play an 

 important part in tho exercise of touch. 



Two sebaceous glands, and a smooth muscular fasciculus, are annexed to tho 

 pilous follicle. Tho sebaceous glands, which have been already described, 

 open into the sheath of tho hair by a small excretory canal, which traverses 

 the fibrillous walls of the follicle. The muscular fasciculus is situated on 

 the side to which the hair and its follicle are inclined ; it arises from tho 

 superficial face of the derma, and terminates at the bottom of the follicle, 

 which it erects by contracting. When the fasciculi contract over a wide 

 surface, the extent of the skin is diminished, and the hairs are erected and 

 partially ejected from their follicles (producing tho cutis anserine). 



(The formation of a hair is identical with tho formation of the epidermis 

 by the papillary layer of the derma. The capillary plexus of the follicle 

 throws out plastic lymph which is converted into granules, then into cells 

 which become elongated into fibres. The cells that are to form tho surface 

 of the hair, are converted into flat scales that inclose the fibrous structure of 

 the interior. As these are successively produced, they overlap those pre- 

 viously formed, and give rise to the waving lines seen on the circumference 

 of the hair; this overlapping also causes the roughness experienced in 

 drawing a hair between the fingers from its point to the bulb. The latter 

 is the newly-formed part of the hair, its expanded form being due to the 

 greater bulk of the fresh-cells. 



The colour of the hair is very varied in animals, ranging from black to 

 white, red and brown, with all the intervening shades. The tint also 

 changes at different periods of life, being sometimes altogether altered 

 en the juvenile and adult periods ; dark-coloured Horses becoming 

 light-coloured as age advances. Besides, it is never uniform in the same 

 animal ; black Horses not unfrequently having white patches and diverse tints, 

 with other dissimilarities. The disease termed " melanosis " is very common 

 in old white Horses which were previously grey, and is supposed to be due 

 to the localization of tho black pigment at certain limited points. The hair 

 grows according to the climate, seasons, food, etc., and varies with the species 

 and breed. The coat in every animal is shed at certain times, and is replaced 

 by new hairs. 



The hair preserves tho skin from unhealthy external influences wet 

 and cold for example. It is a bad conductor of heat, and therefore keeps 

 tin b;dy warm. Tin: tentacula are very useful as tactile organs ; while the 

 muni;, forelock, and tail keep away insects, and the long hairs of the fetlock 

 and pastern protect theso parts from tho injurious effects of cold and \vi-t, 

 uii'l thu action of foreign bodies.) 



HORNY PRODUCTIONS. 



(reparation. The hoof and its contents may be examined by sections made in different 



ions. The hoof can he removed by prolonged nuicenitin, <T by roosting on a fire, 



\vh> n it iiuiy IK- eut and turn off by meant) of tin- furrier's knife and 



The horny tissues form several groups : tho first comprises tho horns of 

 Ruminants; the second, the so-calli-d <7<mu/ of Solipeds ; tho third, the 

 protective layer enveloping tho digital extremities, and constituting tin; c7.iirx 

 i i 'urnivora, the Pig, Ox, Sheep, and Goat, and tho hoofs of tho Horse, Ass, 



