THE TYPES AND CLASSES 



115 



long hours of arduous duty. 

 Compactness, the result of a 

 short vertebral column, brings 

 the source of power, the hind- 

 quarter, closer to the point at 

 which the power is applied, 

 the shoulder, thereby mak- 

 ing for strength and rigidity 

 of the shaft and minimizing 

 loss in transmission. Massive 

 is almost synonymous with 

 muscular, and a massive ap- 

 pearance is suggestive of 

 power, as it indicates extreme 

 development of the short, 

 thick, bulky power variety of 

 muscles. The strength of the 

 bone should correspond to 

 the contracting force of the 

 muscle. The power horse 

 should, therefore, have a 

 framework of heavy but dense, 

 clean bone (Fig. 49). The 

 joint surfaces, also, should be 

 of such area as to withstand 

 the stress of the powerful con- 

 traction of the muscles upon 

 the bones whose ends they 

 oppose. Furthermore, the 

 symmetrical appearance of FIG. 49. Frontal section of 



large metatarsal (hind can- 

 non) bone of horse, posterior 



part. S.c., compact substance; S.s., spongy substance; C.m., medullary 

 cavity; F.n., nutrient foramen. Note the greater thickness of the com- 

 pact substance of the inner and anterior parts of the shaft. 



