CriAP. VI. The Anfitomy of a HORSE. 9} 



Shank-bone. The feventh is joined on its upper End to 

 the third of the upper Rank, and below to the Head of 

 the Shank- bone, and on its Infide to the foregoing, to witj 

 the fixth. 



Thefe Bones are of Ufe, not only to fii- Thar Ufe^ 

 cilitate the Motion of the Knee, but alfo 

 to ftrengthen it ; for by their convex Outfide, the Joint cati 

 never be extended too far the contrary Way, and the Num- 

 ber of the lower Rank exceeding; that of the upper Rank, 

 (as the upper End of the Shank- bone is broader than the 

 lower End of the Cubit) and as the Bones themfelves arc 

 fomewhat different in their Size from each other, like a 

 Piece of good Mafon-work, they cannot eafily be pull'd 

 ^funder ; whereas if the Bones of both Ranks were of 

 one Size and Number, and their Seams and JuntTtures to 

 run ftreighr through, it would be impofTible but every the 

 leafl fahe Step muft diforder them in fuch Manner, as to 

 I occafion an irrecoverable Lamenefs. As to their Motion, 

 ; although by this Sort of Articulation they feem as if they 

 were incapable of any fmgly ; yet it is very certain, the 

 ; whole have a fmall Tendericy inward as often as the Shank 

 .] is bended, though that be fcarceiy difcernable, and by vir- 

 tue of the cartilaginous Ligament, which covers all thofe 

 I little Bones, and ties them together, they cover themfelves 

 1 as with a Spring ; fo that the Motion of that Joint muft 

 I be more eafy and quick, thati it could poffibly be by any 

 ' other Kind of Articulation. 



But it would oblige me to go beyond the Limits of this 

 fnort Abridgment, if I fliould explain the Mechanifm of 

 the Bones ; I fhall therefore proceed to the o-l or r 

 Shank- bone, which comes next in Order, ^^^^ 

 and that which reaches from the Knee to the 

 great Paltern, and anfwers to the Back of the Hand in Man. 

 ' As that confifts of five Bones, the Shank bone of a Horfe 

 ; is rtiade up of three, having one much larger and longer 

 than either of the other. It is joined by its upper Part to 

 the iowermoft Range of the fmall Bones, and oelow to the 

 upper End of the great Paftern, by a reciprocal Articulation," 

 having two round Heads, and three fmall Cavities, where- 

 by thefe two Bones both receive, and are received into each 

 other, at the lower End of the Shoulder- bone and the up* 

 per End of the Cubit. 



To each Side of this Bone is faflened a Splint, in Shape 

 like a Bodkin, being thick and round at the upper End, 



but 



