DISEASES OF THE BONES. ^ 99 



enough to bear such a weight, and thus bending downward 

 the soft, unformed bones of the vertebra, whose points are 

 pressed together above and strained apart below. The back 

 is not broken, but terribly bent, and by the animal's growth 

 is permanently fixed in this condition. Such a horse may 

 be quite serviceable, and the back-bone seem but little 

 weakened ; but he is never adapted for rapid motion of any 

 kind, and his disfigurement is so marked as to detract mate- 

 rially from his market value. 



For such a case no treatment is possible. ^N'ature will do 

 all that can be done. The foolish practice which causes 

 sway-bafck should be discontinued altogether. It is early 

 enough to begin riding the colt when he is nearing the close 

 of his second year. At that age a small boy may be per- 

 mitted to get upon his back carefully, but a full-grown man 

 should not attempt to do this for several months later. 





