382 SHOULDER LAMENESS. 



that the shoulders of quadrupeds " are not fastened to the body by 

 large bones ; but only applied to the extremity of the side, and held 

 in their proper situations by ligaments (muscles'!*) which fasten 

 them to the part. So that by a step, false step, or undue pressure of 

 the leg, a horse may be easily shoulder-pight ox splaited; i. e. some 

 part of the shoulder may be separated fromhis body (tear it), 

 which cannot be done without stretching of the ligaments" (mus- 

 cles). 



The fact of the body being suspended between the shoulders 

 through the large mass of muscle interposed betwixt the scapular 

 blades and the ribs, is of itself sufficient to account for muscular 

 lesion being liable to happen in this part in particular. Not that 

 we are to suppose that the muscular fibre is continually in action 

 to maintain the body from falling ; for of that we have evidence to 

 the contrary in the structure of the muscles themselves ; in their 

 substance being abundantly interlarded ^'\\}ci tendinous fibre: which 

 we know in the body generally ever to be the case when succes- 

 sive or energetic action is demanded, of which there are many 

 examples in the muscles of the extremities. In the case of the 

 shoulder, this interlacing and intersection of tendon is evidently 

 for the purpose of relieving the muscular fibre from continual ac- 

 tion ; while, from its causing the fibres to be less in longitude, and 

 therefore stouter, it at the same time contributes much to the force 

 and power of action of the muscles themselves. 



It is no less a fact we seem likewise to have a sort of right 

 given us by analogy and inference to assume, that the muscles of 

 the shoulder, numerous and complicated as they are, and continual, 

 and at times irksome, as their labour is known to be, must be ob- 

 noxious to lesion, rend or rupture; and yet in practice, when 

 we have every reason to suppose such has happened, we find 

 a difficulty in discovering its site and demonstrating its nature. 

 The horse, while galloping or going hard, or in jumping or leaping, 

 frolicking or frightening, or from stepping suddenly into some- 

 thing or upon something different from what he anticipated he 

 should find it ; — after some such manner as this, I repeat, the horse 



* I have not by me a French SoUeysel to ascertain what this word was in 

 the original. 



