THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 23 
operation of pithing is performed in destroying the horse. It 
is done by running a sharp instrument, such as a knife, fairly 
in the center of the neck, about four inches behind the ears^ 
and passing in this hole through the coverings of the spine 
into that very vital organ called the spinal cord, causing 
death instantaneously. The next four bones receive no name, 
and are about the same in size and length. The last, or 
seventh bone is only about one-half the length of the preced- 
ing ones and receives no special name. 
6. Dorsal or Back-Bones. — Dorsal bones are eighteen in 
number. The chief point of interest about them is the height 
of the spines on the upper part of the bones. These large 
spines form the withers of the horse, as will be noticed in the 
skeleton. On either side of these bones the ribs are at- 
tached, eighteen pairs corresponding with the number of 
bones in this region. 
7. Lumbar or Small-of-Back Bones. — These bones are 
six in number, and they are situated immediately above the 
kidneys. 
8. Sacral or Rump Bones. — There are five of these bones 
in the young horse. They become united and form one in 
the adult. These are situated between the upper hip bones 
and help to form the rump of the horse. Beneath these bones 
the bladder is situated. 
9. Coccygeal or Tail Bones. — These are eighteen in num- 
ber. The principal point of interest in these is that they 
become smaller as they proceed towards the point of the tail. 
10. Hip or Pelvic Bones. — These are three in number, 
viz.: Ilium, ischium, and pubis. The largest is the ilium, 
passing upward and forward, the outer part of it forming the 
pin of the hip or outer angle. The back or posterior part of 
this bone forms a third of the articular surface of the round 
joint and also helps to form the upper wall of the pelvic or 
hip cavity. The ischium passes back from the round joint 
and helps to form the floor of the pelvic cavity. It can be 
felt in a horse that is poor in flesh, projecting out below the 
tail on each side. The pubis, the smallest of the three bones, 
is situated immediately in front of the ischium bone and 
forms the floor of the pelvic cavity. 
11. Sternum or Breast Bone. — This bone is small and 
short in the horse and is situated on the lower side of the chest 
