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CHAPTER XIX. 



THE HIND LIMB. 



General View of the Hind Limb— The Pelvis— Thigh and Stifle— Tibia— Hock- 

 Shank and Fetlock— Pastern and Hoof— Callosities on the Limbs. 



As many points of resemblance exist between the fore and 

 hind hmb, I shall assume, in order to avoid needless 

 repetition, that my readers, before arriving at this chapter, 

 have studied the preceding one, and also Chapter VIII., in 

 which I have tried to explain the action of both pairs of 

 legs. 



General View of the Hind Limb.— I have in- 

 cluded the pelvis among the bones of the hind leg, solely 

 from a conformation point of view, and not from an 

 anatomical one. Although the chief function of the hind 

 limb is that of propulsion, it has, like the fore extremity, 

 to bear weight, but to a lesser extent, and is also less 

 exposed to the effects of concussion. Thus we see that 

 while the shoulder-blade is connected to the body by 

 muscles which work like a spring, in order to save the 

 parts from the ill effects of concussion ; the pelvis is 

 firmly united to the spine, and consequently the force 

 of propulsion by the hind limbs is transmitted to the 

 body with but httle mechanical loss. The pastern and 

 hoof of the hind-quarters are more upright than those 

 of the fore-hand, and, consequently, the muscles which 

 flex their fetlock and pastern joints act to greater mecha- 

 nical advantage. 



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