THE SHOULDER-BLADE, OR SCAPULA. 353 



second row, the pisiform, trapezoid, os magnum, unciform, and 

 one, the trapezium, lying behind the first row. The bones of 

 the fore-leg are the shank, or cannon-bone, and two splint-bones, 

 two small bones at the back part of the pastern-joint called 

 the sesamoid-bones, the pastern-bone, the coronet, or lower 

 pastern-bone, the shuttle-bone, and the cofan-bone. 



THE SHOULDER-BLADE, OR SCAPULA. 



Tlie sJioulder-Uade is a triangular, or three-cornered, bone. 

 It is attached, or fastened, to the forward part of the side of 

 the chest by muscles and ligaments inserted into it, and attached 

 to the bones of the chest, and some of the bones of the spine. 

 It is broad at the top, and thick and heavy toward the lower 

 end, which terminates in a shallow, hollowed cavit}-, which re- 

 ceives the head of the humerus, the next bone below it. Im- 

 mediately forward of this cavity is a thick projection, called the 

 point of the shoulder. On the outside of the bone, a high 

 ridge starts near its upper edge, and runs downward toward 

 the thick neck, dividing the outer side into two foces. The 

 inner side of the bone is smooth and hollowed out, the great 

 saw-muscle being attached to it. It stands obliquely, or slant- 

 ing, on the side of the chest, the lower end projecting forward. 



The degTee of obliquity of the shoulder-blade determines the- 

 slant of the shoulder, and is a point of the greatest importance.. 

 The slanting shoulder is the only one suited to easy or rapid, 

 action. It is the only one that is capable of standing such.. 

 The upright shoulder is adapted to heavy draught, where slow- 

 motion is required. It will be readily understood why the- 

 slanting shoulder is suited to ease and quick action when the 

 manner in which the shoulder-blade and the bone next below 

 it stand. In the slanting shoulder they form a considerable- 

 angle, and act, therefore, like the springs of a carriage ; while 

 in the upright shoulder these two bones are much nearer 

 on a line, and the concussion, or jar, is but little broken when 

 the weight of the horse and his rider are thrown on them. 

 23 



