DISEASES OF THE MUSCLES AND TENDONS. 213 



thrown fairly up against the belly, and with some force. The 

 muscles are but the servants of the nerves, and only exhibit 

 the contractions and jerks that are communicated to them 

 by their superiors. 



A celebrated horse in England, that had been afflicted with 

 string-halt in its most aggravated form, was dissected by 

 Professor Spooner, of the Royal Veterinary College, with a 

 view to gaining some light upon the causes of this disease. 

 The result of the examination has been given, as follows : 



"On taking oft' the skin, all the muscles presented their 

 perfect healthy character. There was not the slightest en- 

 largement or discoloration of the fasciae. The muscles of 

 both extremities were dissected from their origins to their 

 tendinous terminations, and their fibrous structure carefully 

 examined. They were all beautifully developed, presenting 

 no inequality or irregularity of structure, nor aiight that 

 would warrant the suspicioh that any one of them possessed 

 an undue power or influence beyond the others. The only 

 abnormal circumstance about them was, that they were of a 

 rather darker yellow in color than is usually found. This 

 referred to them generally, and not to any particular muscle 

 or sets of muscles. 



J'The lumbar, crural, and sciatic nerves were examined 

 from the spot at which they emerge from the spinal cord to 

 their ultimate distributions. The crural and lumbar nerves 

 were perfectly healthy. The sciatic nerve, at the aperture 

 through which it escapes froili the spine, was darker in color 

 than is usual, being of a yellowish-brown hue. Its texture 

 was softened, and its fibrillse somewhat loosely connected to- 

 gether. The nerve was of its usual size ; but on tracing it in 

 its course through the muscles of the haunch, several spots 

 of ecchymosis presented themselves, and were more particu- 

 larly marked on that part of the nerve which is connected 

 with the sacro-sciatic ligament. As the nerve approached 

 the hock, it assumed its natural color and tone; and the 

 fibers given oft' from it to the muscles situated inferior to the 

 stifle-joint were of a perfectly healthy character. 



