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MANUAL OP MODBRN FARRIIRY. 
THE CUTIS. 
This is the true skin, or that portion which is converted 
into leather, and lies immediately under the scarf-skin. It 
reaches over every part of the animal. It is attached to 
the under parts by the cellular membrane, and in some 
places fits so tensely that it is incapable of motion of any 
kind. In other situations it is more loose and can be pulled 
into folds ; about the forehead, the back, and near the hock 
and pasterns, it is so tightly braced that it is hardly 
possible to pinch up a part of it between the finger and 
thumb; upon the sides of the face, neck, ribs, along the 
flanks, front of the chest, and upon the arms and thighs, it 
is more easily folded. In the blood-horse it is thin and 
highly sensitive ; while in the cart-horse, it is much thicker, 
and far less sensible ; and is liable to considerable variation 
in different breeds. The texture of the hair seems to 
depend in a great measure upon that of the cutis, for we 
find that of the thick-skinned black horse much coarser 
than in the racer and other high-bred varieties. It is 
a rare thing to meet with a black thoroughbred horse. 
The skin is beautifully adapted for giving strength as 
well as a protection to the muscles; for we find in those 
parts that require to be firmly bound together, such as the 
bones of the knees, the pasterns and tendons of the limbs, 
it adheres with such tenacity that it cannot be raised from 
those places; thus acting the part of a powerful ligature 
to the parts which are subjected to the greatest degree of 
stress; and in those situations where being tight would 
interfere with the action of the horse, it is loose. 
The cutis is of a strong fibrous texture, very tough, yet 
supple, elastic, very vascular, and sensitive. Its fibres are 
curiously interwoven in almost every direction, and so inter- 
