46 THE SENSORIAL FUNCTION. 



g The fore pastera and foot, consisting of the Os Suitraginis, or the upper an**- 

 larger pastern bone, with the sesamoid bones behind, articulating with 

 the cannon and greater pastern ; the Os Coronae, or lesser pastern ; the 

 Os Pedis, or coffin bone ; and the Os Naviculare, or navicular, or shuttle- 

 bone, not seen, and articulating with the smaller pasteru and cof&n 

 bones. 



h Thf. corresponding bones of the hind-feet. 



O The Haunch, consisting of three portions, the Ilium, the Iscbiam, and tb© 

 Pubis. 



P The Femur, or thigh. 



Ci The stifle joint with the Patella. 



R The Tibia, or proper leg bone — behind is a small bone called the Hbula. 



S The Tarsus, or hock, composed of six bones. The prominent part U the Os 

 Calcis, or point of the hock. 



T The Metatarsals of the hind leg. 



THE SEIfSORIAL FUNCTION 



An accurate knowledge of what constitutes the just structure 

 of the horse — ^the form and connection of parts on which strength, 

 or ileetness, or stoutness, must necessarily depend, is claimed by 

 nearly all who have had anything to do with this noble animal ; 

 but in reality it is possessed by very few. 



In speaking of the structure of this animal, and the points 

 which guide the opinion of real judges of him, we shall, as briefly 

 and as simply as we are able, explain those fundamental princi- 

 ples on which his usefulness and beauty must depend. We re- 

 quire one kind of horse for slow and heavy draught, and another 

 for lighter and quicker work ; one as a pleasant and safe roadster 

 — another, with more speed and equal continuance, as a hunter — 

 and another still is wanted for the race-course. What is the pe- 

 culiarity of structure — what are the particular points that will 

 fit each for his proper business, and, to a certain degree, unfit him 

 for everything else ? The farmer will require a horse of aU-work, 

 that can carry him to market and take him round his farm — on 

 which he can occasionally ride for pleasure, and which he must 

 sometimes degrade to the dung-cart or the harrow. What com- 

 bination of powers will enable the animal to discharge most of 

 these duties well, and all of them to a certain extent profitably ? 



Much time spent among horses, an acquired love of them, and 

 a little, sometimes possibly too dearly-bought experience, may 

 give the agriculturist some insight into these matters. And we 

 shall try to render him some useful assistance in this afiair-^to 

 teach him why certain points must be good or bad — and to induce 

 him to discard many common but dangerous errors and prejudices. 

 It is only by being well acquainted with the structure and anatomy 

 of the horse, that we can appreciate his shape and uses, or under- 

 stand the different diseases to which he is liable. 



The nervous system will first pass in review, for it is the mov 

 ing power of the whole machine. It consists of the brain, to 



