THE HORSE IN MOTION. 65 



have been applied to the united muscles, if either; but the worst 

 part of the history is that the name of levator anguli scapute was 

 applied to another muscle, the trachclo siibscapularis {?\dite. l^.,g,g). 

 No name could be more inappropriate than this; in no way, directly 

 or indirectly, can it be said to lift the angle of the scapula, as may be 

 seen by reference to the plate. The function of this last-named mus- 

 cle has, so far as I know, never been understood until now, and will 

 be explained further on. But this furnishes another example of the 

 confusion arising from hippo-anatomists being misled by human anat- 

 omy. The levator anguli scapulae is quite distinct from the rhom- 

 boideus in man, having its origin in the transverse processes of the 

 vertebra of the neck, while in the horse its origin is in the spinous 

 processes of the vertebra, as far back as the withers and along the 

 yellow cord. (See Plate IV.) In man, its name, li/icr of the angle 

 of the scapula, is good, for that expresses its function ; in man, 

 however, it is no locomotive organ, but even more necessary to 

 the complicated movements his superior extremities are required to 

 perform. 



From the necessity which exists, for the reasons given, of restoring 

 the old name to the trachelo subscapularis, the restoration of the 

 name levator anguli scapulae to its old association becomes necessary, 

 if it is not to be abandoned altogether. In order to make intelli- 

 gible a description of the mechanical action, there is need of definite 

 terms, and we will apply the name levator anguli scapute to include 

 the rhomboideus as well. 



The contraction of its fibres does not take place until the leg is 

 extended and the foot rests upon the ground ; it then acts to draw 

 forward the upper or short end of the whole extremity as a lever 

 with its fulcrum on the ground and its weight at the centre of motion. 

 The course of its fibres is accurately drawn in the plate, the limb 

 being in its normal position. Its posterior fibres are few, but as it 

 extends forward they become numerous and more powerful. Their 

 insertion is into the inner border of the cartilage (Plates IV. and XI., 

 «, 11, ii)\ at the anterior border, 7/, is the insertion of the muscle known 

 before the time of Cuvier as the levator anguli scapulas ; they form a 



9 



