The anatomy of the horse, embracing the structure of the foot

Front matter

lilies '

the i loo*

COQIV

Section I. — Osseous System. Of the skeleton . . . . . . 1

Tabular enumeration of the bones . . . .3

Terms used in descriptive anatomy . . . 4

Bones of the trunk . . . . . . ib-

Bones of the head . . . . 19

Bones of the extremities . . . . .48

Section II. — Muscular System *

Of the muscles .

. 75

Table of the muscles .

• • •

. 76

Cutaneous muscles

• • •

. 82

Muscles of the head .

.

• •

. 84

Muscles of the trunk

• • •

. 103

Muscles of the extremities

.

. 133

Section

III.-

—Circulatory System.

Of the blood

.

. 163

Of the heart and pericardium

•

•

172-173

Of the blood-vessels

• • •

. 176

Of the arteries

.

• • •

. ib.

Table of the arteries

• • •

. 177

Description of the arteries

•

.

. 179

Of the veins

. • •

. 207

Table of the veins

...

. 208

Description of the veins .

.

. 210

Section

IV.-

—Respiratory System.

Of the larynx

.

. 221

Of the trachea .

• • •

. 223

VI

Contents

Page

Of the thyroid glands , , , , . 22G

Of the lungs and pleura . . . , . . ib.

Introduction

In all ages have medical philosophers regarded a knowledge of anatomy as requisite to the attainment of the science of medicine ; but in no age, we may venture to assert, has the truth of this opinion shone upon the mind •with brighter light than at the present time. In this, our own day, we may look around and seem to trace the success of each one eminent in the healing art to his anatomical acquirements : at least we may safely affirm, that not one of our present medical distinyues could have gained the same ground without a knowledge of anatomy ; and he would appear to have reached the highest station who has had the wisdom and foresight to make that science the foundation of his other professional pursuits.

However much lack of knowledge and respectability on the part of its practitioners may have disparaged it, the Veterinary Art itself must claim kindred with human medicine, anatomy and physiology being their common parents. Both sciences spring from the same source, and must be attained by a like course of study. The surgeon has lived to the day to be convinced, that no so sure road to reputation and distinction lies open to him as the broad and accessible one through the dissectingroom ; and the day will come (should it have not yet arrived) when the Veterinary Surgeon will discover that the same path

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INTRODUCTION.

is the only one which even he can rationally pursue. The age of grooms and farriers is on the decline ; and the day fast approaching, when science must and will assert the same sway over the veterinary profession as she so triumphantly exercises at the present day over the medical world at large.

After this encomium on anatomy, it comes very natural to inquire what we learn or profit by the science. A short and pithy answer (though it might be deemed an unsatisfactory one) may be given to this question, by repeating, that no really useful medical learning can be acquired without it. A professor of medicine with a mind unfurnished with anatomy and physiology, is precisely in the situation of a mechanic who undertakes to repair a deranged or broken machine without any acquaintance whatever with its mechanism or operations : both such persons are empirics, and worse than empirics — impostors in their professions : either of them perchance may do good ; but there is ever much to be apprehended that they may be working some irreparable mischief. We hear of “ wonderful cures ” being performed by persons having no pretensions whatever — indeed possessing none — to medical science ; and in this hit-or-miss manner of proceeding, it cannot be denied that some valuable discoveries have been made : could we, however, but set against these discoveries, brilliant as some of them may have turned out to be, a true catalogue of the failures attendant upon the experiments in which they had their origin, we are sorely afraid the picture would exhibit a complexion which even the discoverers themselves could not regard without mingled dissatisfaction and remorse.

Plain and obvious as this necessity for fundamental knowledge must appear to every reflecting mind, yet there are gentlemen— men of education — enough to be found who commit their horses, in disease as in health, entirely to the care of their grooms ! or, who call to their aid the blacksmith or bellhanger, rather than put faith in a man who is, or ought to be, even under every disadvantage, alone qualified to comprehend the nature and cause of disease. It was once so with human medicine : science has, however dispelled the gloom in that quarter; and will as certainly, in the progress of time, in like manner enlighten our own clouded and sunless regions.

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xiu

Want of education among its members, literary as well as medical, lias done more real injury to the cause of veterinary science than any one individual agent besides. Superiority in knowledge is the only effective weapon we possess, with which we are able successfully to combat our opponents : without that, we may exhibit the shadow, but hold not the substance of pre-eminence over those who have for ages had possession of the practice of that art, of which we come before the public, not merely as practical but as scientific professors.

By learning anatomy, we become acquainted with the situation, form, connection, and structure of every part of the body. Its action or use is taught us by the science of physiology. From which we proceed to the third natural link in the chain of fundamental medical knowledge, — pathology, or the doctrine of disease. Anatomy prepares the mind for, while.it excites it to, the study of physiology ; a science no less admired for the sublimity of its dogmas, than ardently pursued for its fruitful and valuable products. To conclude, let us once more repeat, that anatomy forms the groundwork of physiology ; and that he who possesses a knowledge of both sciences combined, holds in his hand the key to all rational practice, as well in medicine as in surgery, be it human or be it veterinary.

The science of anatomy admits of division into general , and particular or descriptive anatomy.

General Anatomy treats of the several elementary parts or simple tissues into which the organs or complicated parts of the body are resolvable : developing their different properties — mechanical, chemical, and vital ; and at the same time exposing their various modes of association, by which is constituted organization ; the phrase “ organization ” being used by anatomists to imply perfection or adaptation of structure to its end, design, or function.

Particular or Descriptive Anatomy views parts and organs, entire — as we find them : taking cognizance of the

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INTRODUCTION.

form and structure of each ; and noting its relations, such as situation, direction, position, dimensions, connection, &c. In fact, it is the object of the work before us.

Anatomy may also be said to be particular when its inquiries become confined to any one individual species of animals ; in which sense many subdivisions may be made of it, though they all become conveniently reduced to three, viz., human, veterinary, and comparative anatomy.

Human Anatomy restricts its investigations to the human species.

Veterinary Anatomy, though perhaps strictly applicable (in accordance with its derivation) to beasts of burthen, is, at the present day, understood to comprehend all domesticated animals ; or, at least, such of them as come more immediately into our domestic service.

Comparative Anatomy extends its view over the whole animal creation, but derives its name from a reciprocal comparison of them, or from a comparison of them individually with man as a standard ; and acquires importance from the mutual illustrations it affords in structure and function.

The study of anatomy, more, perhaps, than that of most other sciences, will be found to be facilitated by systematic arrangement; and the nearer approach this makes to the end we have in view in such study (which is, primarily, physiology), the greater seem to turn out the advantages therefrom resulting. For this reason, in the work before us, a physiological systematization has been preferred ; by which, parts and organs co-operating to one common end or purpose, will be found classed together in the same system. Co-operation in function, however, so far from indicating identity of structure, is in many instances effected by organs of structures the most dissimilar ; while, on the other hand, similarity of texture pervades many parts belonging to different physiological systems : two facts that may be adduced as forming some objection to the classification here adopted. But, we conceive, they are both overruled by the insight which the present plan gives us into physiology ; the object, let it never be forgotten, we have in

INTRODUCTION.

xv view in prosecuting anatomy. The following table exhibits the

PLAN OP THE WORK.

SECTION.

SYSTEM.

CONTAINED PARTS.