CHAPTER XL 
THE SKIN. 
THIS is the membrane which covers the body. It con- 
sists of two layers and is covered with hair, fine or 
coarse, long or short, according to its position or the 
purpose which nature intended it to serve. The 
outer layer is called the epidermis, the inner the dermis. 
1. The Epidermis. — The epidermis is the outer layer. It 
is not supplied with nerves and blood vessels, its purpose 
being merely to protect the inner layer. This layer under- 
goes a continual process of being made up and passing away 
in dandruff. 
2. The Dermis. — The dermis or true skin lies under the 
epidermis. It is well supplied with nerves and blood vessels, part 
of the nerves being the nerves of touch. This fact accounts for 
its becoming so very sensitive and painful when through injury 
of any kind the outer layer is scraped off. It is attached to 
the body by a layer of white tissue known as the areoler 
tissue, this being that which is cut through when the animal 
is being skinned. The thickness of the skin varies in differ- 
ent parts of the body, being thinnest in the under parts. The 
sweat glands are situated in the dermis. 
3. Hair. — There are three kinds of hair on the horse: — 
the common, the finest of the three, covers most of the body; 
that of the mane and tail, coarse and long; and that growing 
on the muzzle or nose and the lips, long and usually black, 
known as cat hairs. 
On the inside of the front legs, just above the knee, and 
on the inside of the hind legs, about the hock, are rough 
horny spots. These are called chestnuts. 
If 
