BONES OF THE HIND EXTREMITIES. 361 



with the tibia and astragalus in front and below, and rests on 

 the cnbe-bone and larger wedge-bone. 



The cuhe-hone is situated at the backward and outer part of 

 the hough, and rests on the outside splint-bone, and partly on 

 the cannon-bone. 



The large ivedge-hone is flat and thick, and rests on the other 

 two wedge-bones. 



The smaller ivedge-hones form the lower and front part of 

 the hough. The inner one rests principally on the inner splint- 

 bone; the front one on the shank-bone. 



The bones of the lioiigh are united by strong ligaments, and 

 between the faces are layers of cartilage, synovial sack, and 

 joint-water, the same as in the knee-joints. By this arrange- 

 ment great strength and elasticity, or springiness, are secured, 

 and concussion prevented. 



It might be expected that a joint so complicated, and which 

 often has to sustain a concussion equal to many thousand 

 pounds, would be the seat of injury. Such is the case. This 

 joint is subject to general inflammation, known as enlarge- 

 ment of the hough. Curb is another disease affecting it. It, 

 or the parts about it, is also the seat of bog-spavin, bone- 

 spavin, and capped hough. 



No one can too well understand the anatomy and diseases of 

 the hough, and the proper size and shape of its different parts, 

 and the strength and force of the muscles and ligaments con- 

 nected with ' it. It should be carefully studied. A horse 

 with a diseased hough is a very worthless animal. 



The hones of the hind-leg, from the hough down, are the same 

 in name and number, and similarly arranged, as those of the 

 fore-leg from the knee down. The shank is longer, and also 

 the pasterns. The pasterns are less slanting. Smoothness 

 and breadth are to be desired in the hind-leg. The hind-leg 

 is liable to various injuries and several diseases, as swelled leg, 

 grease, or scratches, etc. 



