242 . MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



are strongly implanted into it. The lower surface is smaller 

 than either of the others, and is irregularly flattened, and almost 

 wholly articulatory ; it is embraced by the suj^erior part of the 

 large cuneiform bone. The two bones above described rest on 

 two others, the os cuboidesj or cube-shaped bone, e, behind, and 

 the larger wedge-shaped bone, d, in front. This larger wedge- 

 shaped bone is supported by two small ones, /, and these two 

 smaller ones and the cube-shaped bone by the upper heads of 

 the shank-bone, h, and the splint-bone, g. The cube-bone is 

 placed on the external splint-bone and the cannon-bone ; the 

 small wedge-bone chiefly rests on the inner splint-bone, Avhich 

 cannot be seen in our figure, and the middle wedge-bone rests 

 on the shank-bone, h, alone. All these bones are connected 

 together by very strong ligaments, which prevent dislocation* 

 but are sufficiently flexible to allow a slight degree of motion 

 among them ; and the surfaces which are opposed to and move 

 upon each other are thickly covered by elastic cartilage. 



b. The inferior end or base of the tibia. This bone reaches from 

 the stifle to the hock ; it is connected with the round bone 

 above, and the os calcis below. 



c. The OS calcis, which forms the posterior projecting part, called 

 the point of the hock. 



d. The OS cuneiforme magmwij large wedge-shaped, or cuneiform- 

 bone, situated immediately under the astragalus. 



e. The os cuhoides, or cuboid bone, situate on the outer part of 

 the hock. 



f. The OS cuneiforme, or middle cuneiform bone, situated imme- 

 diately underneath the large cuneiform bone, and upon the 

 hind cannon bone. 



g. The splint-bone. 



h. Upper head of the shank-bone, or metatarsi magnum. 



This joint is subjected to very great stress and weight, 

 and consequently peculiarly liable to injury both in the 

 draught and during rapid motion. However, nature has 

 constructed it with wonderful skill ; and it is, by the beau- 

 tiful adjustment of its parts, rendered less liable to disease 

 than might be expected from the important and heavy 

 duties it has to perform. The provisions made for this end 



