MUSCLES OF THE BACK. 229 



vated and thrown forward to receive the weight forced on them by the action 

 of the hinder quarters. In proportion, however, as the fore-quarters are 

 elevated, will they be thrown farther forward, or, in other words, will the 

 stride of the horse be lengthened. Yet many racers have the forehand low. 

 The unrivalled Eclipse (see p. 69) was a remarkable instance of this; but 

 the ample and finely proportioned quarters, and the muscularity of the thigh 

 and fore-arm, rendered the aid to be derived from the withers perfectly unne- 

 cessary. The heavy draught- horse does not require elevated withers. His 

 utility depends on the power of depressing his fore-quarters, and throwing their 

 weight fully into the collar ; but for common work in the hackney, in the 

 farmer's horse, and in the hunter, well-formed withers will be an essential 

 advantage, as contributing to good and safe action, and likewise to speed. 



MUSCLES OF THE BACK. 



The most important muscles which belong to this part of the frame are 

 principally those which- extend from the continuation of the ligament of the 

 neck, along the whole of the back and loins ; and likewise from the last cer- 

 vical bone ; the superftcialis and transversalis costarum^ or superficial and 

 transverse muscles of the ribs, going from this ligament to the upper part of 

 the ribs to elevate them, and to assist in the expansion of the chest ; also the 

 large mass of muscle, the longissimus dorsi, or longest muscle of the back, from 

 the spinous and transverse processes of the vertebrae to the ribs, and by which 

 all the motions of the spine, and back, and loins, to which allusion has been 

 made, are principally produced ; by which the fore-quarters are raised upon 

 the hind ones, or the hind upon the fore ones, according as either of them is 

 the fixed point. This is the principal agent in rearing and kicking. 



The last muscle to be noticed is the spinalis dorsi, the spinal muscle of the 

 back, from the spinous processes of some of the last bones of the back to those 

 of the fore part ; thick and strong about the withers, and broadly attached to 

 them ; and more powerfully attached, and more strongly acting in proportion 

 to the elevation of the withers ; and proceeding on to the three lowest bones of 

 the neck, and therefore mainly concerned, as already described, in elevating 

 the fore- quarters, and producing high and safe action, and contributing to speed. 



Before the roof of the chest is left, some accidents or diseases to which it is 

 exposed must be mentioned. The first is of a very serious nature. 



FIST U LOUS WITHERS. 



When the saddle has been suffered to press long upon the withers, a tumour 

 will be formed, hot and exceedingly tender. It may sometimes be dispersed 

 by the cooling applications recommended in the treatment of poll-evil ; but 

 if, in despite of these, the swelling should remain stationary, and espe- 

 cially if it should become larger and more tender, warm fomentations and 

 poultices, and stimulating embrocations should be diligently applied, in order to 

 hasten the formation of pus. As soon as that can be fairly detected, a 

 seton should be passed from the top to the bottom of the tumour, so that the 

 whole of the matter may be evacuated, and continue to be discharged as it is 

 afterwards formed ; or the knife may be freely used, in order to get at the 

 bottom of every sinus. The knife has succeeded many a time when the seton 

 has failed. The after treatment must be precisely that which was recommended 

 for a similar disease in the poll. 



In neglected fistulous withers the ulcer may be larger and deeper, and more 

 destructive than in poll-evil. It may burrow beneath the shoulder-blade, and 

 the pus appear at the point of the shoulder or the elbow ; or the bones of the 

 withers may become carious 



