HORSESHOEING. 



PART I. 



CHAPTER I. 

 THE GROSS ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 



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

 work or skeleton (Fig. 1, page 16). We distinguish in the skele- 

 ton 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 distin- 

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

 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, with the exception 

 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 con- 

 tinuous large canal called the vertebral or spinal canal, in which 

 lies the spinal cord. The horse has seven cervical, eighteen dor- 

 sal, six lumbar, five sacral, and sixteen to eighteen caudal verte- 



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