78 STRAINS. 



groom are fo frequently at a lofs for their de« 

 finition or explanation of any particular lame- 

 nefs, fixing it by conjedlure upon any part (at- 

 tributing it to any caufe) but the right; and 

 to this they are feldom direded by any mental 

 information, poffe fling a very barren concep- 

 tion of the flrufture of parts, their purpofes, 

 or appropriations. The fnufcles or tejidons (by 

 farriers generally termed iinews) are ftrong 

 elaftic fubftances, compofed of innumerable' 

 threads or fibres, poffefl^ing the properties of 

 extenfion and coiitradlion to a certain degree, 

 beyond which their flexibility or elafticity can- 

 not be extended without palpable injury, and 

 certain lamenefs -, for, by overftraining, their 

 elaftic , quality (or affinity, to catgut) is in a 

 great meafure deilroyed in proportion to the 

 injury fjftained. To render this idea fo clear 

 that it cannot be mifunderftood, let us fuppofe 

 that a horfe is going at his rate, and in fo do- 

 ing his toe covers a prominence, or the edge 

 of one, where the heel has no fupport, it con- 

 fequently extends the tendons beyond the dif- 

 tance afforded by nature, and inftantly con- 

 ftitutes what is called a letting d'own of the 

 back fine ws; a circumftance that conftantly 

 happens upon the turf in running for a heat, 



and 



