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 areolor tissue, this being that which is cut through when the animal is being skinned. The thickness of the skin varies in different parts of the body, being thinnest in the under parts. The sweat glands are situated in the dermis.
THE 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 lips, long and usually black, known as tactile or cat hairs.
On the inside of the front legs, just above the knee, and on the inside of the hind legs, above the hock, are rough, horny spots. These are called chestnuts.
CROSS SECTION OF THE FOOT OF THE HORSE.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE VII
Anatomy of the Foot.—This illustration represents the foot of a horse sawed from above the fetlock down through the center of the foot. It shows the structure of the foot, the name of each part being given according to number.