AS TO SOUNDNESS. 



45 



the flexor tendon and navicular bone ; the former push- 

 ing the latter, wedge-like, against and into the joint. 

 Here I have enumerated the chief or main stays, and am 

 not forgetting that there are others to each joint, even 

 to the coffin joint ; but all others are insignificant as 

 compared with the ones enumerated. 



Next, I wish to draw your attention to the phalanges 

 as a whole. We find when the limb is rigid and bearing 

 more or less of the weight of the body, the phalanges 

 are placed obliquely to the long axis of the bones of the 

 leg, from the fetlock to the elbow joint. 



That the long axis of the phalanges themselves is 

 straight. 



That the line (seen on taking a side view) formed by the 

 upper margin of the hoo^ or line of the coronary band, as 

 we shall call it, is very nearly at a right angle with the 

 long axis of the phala/iges — thus : 



That the angle formed by the li7te of the cojvnary band 

 with the hoof is of necessity the same whether the horse 

 be lying, standing, or in motion. This angle, when the 

 Hmb is bearing the horse's weight (rigid), is just a trifle 



