•276 



THE FORE LEGS. 



liorsewith these defects should be carefully examined at the inside of the fetlock, and 

 if there are any sore or callous places from cuttin£r, there will be sufficient reason for 

 rejecting the animal. Some horses will cut only when they are fatigued or lame, and 

 old ; many colts will cut before they arrive at their full strength. 



A consideration of the pasterns will throw more light upon this and other diseases 

 of the extremities. 



The upper paslern bone (6, p. 272, and a in the first figure, and h in the second in 

 the following cuts) receives the lower pulley-like head of the shank-bone, and forms 

 a hinge-joint admitting only of bending and extension, but not of side motion; it 

 likewise articulates with the sessamoid^-bones. Its lower head has two rounded pro- 

 tuberances, which are received into corresponding depressions in the lower pastern. 

 On either side, above the pastern \oint, are roughened projections for the attachment 

 of very strong ligaments, both in capsular ligaments, and many cross ligaments, 

 which render the joint between the two pasterns sufficiently secure. 



Fig. 1. 



Fig. 1. 

 a The upper pastern. 

 b The lower pastern. 

 c The navicular bone. 

 d The coffin-bone. 



Fig. 2. 

 a The sessamoid bone. 

 h The upper pastern. 

 c The lower pastern. 

 d The navicular bone. 

 e The coffin-bone, with the horny laminae. 



The luiver pastern {d, p. 272, and h in the first figure, and c in the second in this 

 cut) is a short and thick bone with its larger head downward. Its upper head has 

 two depressions to receive the protuberances on the lower head of the upper bone, 

 bearing some resemblance to a pulley, but not so decidedly as the lower head of the 

 shank-bone. Its lower head resembles that of the other pastern, and has also two 

 prominences, somewhat resembling a pulley, by which it articulates with the coffin- 

 bone ; and a depression in front, corresponding with a projection in the cofiln-bone. 

 There are also two slight depressions behind, receiving eminences of the navicular 

 bone. Neither of these joints admits of any lateral motion. The ligaments of this 

 joint, both the capsular and the cross ones, are like those of 

 the pastern-joint, exceedingly strong. The tendon of the 

 extensor muscle is inserted into the fore part, botli of the 

 upper and lower pastern-bones as well as into the u|)per part 

 of the coffin-bone (/, p. 272) ; and at the back of these bones 

 the suspensory ligament is expanded and inserted, while a 

 portion of it goes over the fore part of tlie upper pastern to 

 reach the extensor tendon. These attaclimcnts in front o! 

 the bones are seen in the accompanying cut, in which a 

 represents the lower part of the shank-bone ; b the sessamoid- 

 bones ; c the upper pastern ; d the lower pastern ; -and e the 

 coffin-bone ; / are the branches of the suspensory liga- 

 ments going to unite witli tlie extensor tendon ; i^ the 

 long extensor tendon ; h ligaments connecting the two 

 pastern-bones together ; and i the lateral cartilages of the 

 foot. 



