CONFORMATION 



ir,7 



of several small bones interposed between the long bones of 

 the lower part of the limb, and these are six in number and 

 of various shapes. 



From an inspection of the view presented by the hock, it 

 will be at once seen how important it is all the bones 

 composing it should be very well developed, and a large 

 " bony " hock be much desired. The point of the hock acts 

 as a lever to straighten the leg, and is moved by the tendon 

 Achilles and other tendons, arising from the muscles which 



PLATE VII. 



The Bones of the Hock. 



G Tibia. 



J Outer Cuneiforme. 



K Cannon, or Shank. 



L Splint. 



N Naviculare. 



P Middle Cuneiforme. 



E Os calcis, or Point of the Hock. 



S Astragalus. 



T Cuboides. 



spring from the upper part of the limb. The flexor pedis 

 (g, Plate IX.) one of the principal muscles for bending the 

 foot, becomes tendinous before it reaches the hock, when it 

 passes as a large round cord through a groove at the back 

 of that joint, and after descending behind the shank-bone is 

 inserted in the two pasterns. The ligaments that are attached 

 to it are very apt to become strained, resulting in a " curb " 

 (Plate IX.) about four inches below the point of the hock, and 

 this is more especially the case when the head of the shank- 

 bone is weak, having, as it were, a piece cut away from the 



