92 Veterinary Elements. 



liver, kidneys and the reproductive organs. Each trunk 

 is known as an iliac, these being continued as femorals, 

 then as tibials and later as metatarsals, small branches' 

 being given off quite frequently. The latter (metatar- 

 sals) are peculiar inasmuch as they are found on the 

 outer sides of the hind cannons, and are sometimes cut, 

 on plow shares, wire fencing, etc. It has been stated 

 that as a rule arteries are deep seated to be out of the 

 way of injury. The metatarsals at the hind fetlock 

 divide up and from them blood is supplied to the hind 

 feet in a similar manner to that supplied to the fore feet 

 by the continuations (branchings) of the metacarpals. 



The Veins. The main difference between arteries and 

 veins are in their construction and work. Veins are 

 usually in twos, deep and superficial, the former with an 

 artery. In the veins of the limbs are found valves which 

 prevent the passage backwards of the blood. It is often 

 a question when blood is coming from a wound as to 

 whether that blood is from a vein or from an artery, if 

 from an artery the blood comes in spurts (jerks), when 

 from a vein, it flows. The vein carrying blood from the 

 lungs (pulmonary vein) is an exception to the rest inas- 

 much as it carries purified blood. Most veins start in 

 the capillaries, the portal vein, however, fetches blood 

 from the stomach and intestines to the liver. The arte- 

 ries, it was mentioned, kept dividing and subdividing 

 until the capillaries were reached, the veins do just the 

 opposite in that they keep uniting until a large vein 

 (vena cava) is formed, which empties into the right side 

 of the heart. The jugular vein in the furrow of the 

 neck is the one from which blood is usually drawn in 

 cattle and horses. 



