DISEASES OF THE HEART 453 



branch goes to the spermatic cord, which in the mare goes to the uterus, 

 and the prepubic artery, a vessel which divides into the posterior abdominal 

 and the external pudic arteries. 



The Femoral Artery extends from the os pubis above to the lower 

 part of the femur, where its name changes to the j)opliteal. In its course 

 downward it gives off several considerable branches, which are distributed 

 to the muscles of the thigh. 



The Popliteal Artery, a continuation of the femoral, lies behind 

 the femoro-tibial articulation or stitle-joint, and in front of the popliteal 

 muscle. After distributing small branches to the structures around, 

 it divides into two parts — the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. 



Anterior Tibial Artery. — This is the larger of the two, and, as its 

 name implies, is situated in fi-ont of the tibia or second thigh, down which 

 it passes beneath the flexor metatarsi muscle. On reaching the tibio-tarsal 

 articulation or hock-joint it takes the name of the great metatarsal artery. 

 In its course down the leg it gives off a number of branches to the tibio- 

 femoral articulation and to the muscles in its course, especially those in 

 front of the tibia. 



Pedal or Great Metatarsal Artery. — This vessel is a continuation 



of the anterior tibial. It commences in front of the hock-joint, and passes 

 obliquely outwards beneath the peroneus and the short extensor of the foot, 

 to reach the furrow formed by the large canon and the outer splint-bone, 

 along which it runs until nearing the fetlock -joint, where it passes inwards 

 between the suspensory ligament and the large metatarsal bone, and 

 divides into two branches — the right and left digital arteries. These 

 traverse the sides of the phalanges or pasterns, and are ultimately destined 

 to the foot. 



The Posterior Tibial Artery lies deeply situated behind the tibia, 

 and besides furnishing branches to the deep muscles of the leg it also 

 supplies the nutrient vessel of the bone, and furnishes branches to the 

 hock-joint. Finally it divides into the two plantar arteries. 



DISEASES OF THE HEART 



GENERAL CONSIDERATION OF THE PATHOLOGY OF 

 HEART-DISEASE 



It seems to be agreed among veterinary writers that diseases affecting 

 the heart of the horse are either not so numerous as those which attack the 

 heart of the human subject, or that they pass to a great extent unnoticed 

 until an opportunity is afforded for a post-mortem examination. 



Going back to the work of Gibson, who wrote in 1751, it will be 



