LATERAL FACES OF THE BODY. 163 



When its concavity is too deep, it is said to be hollow, as may be 

 observed in horses that are indolent, of a lymphatic temperament, and 

 of large form and pendulous abdomen. It is also seen in meagre 

 animals, and in those which are poorly nourished, or which have been 

 obliged to endure great fatigue or a long period of sickness. 



It is called corded when its cord or middle part projects above the 

 two others, through the simultaneous effect of the depression of one 

 and the retraction of the other. This state is noticed under the same 

 circumstances as those which cause the hollow flank, of which we have 

 just spoken. 



When the inferior part of the flank becomes abruptly continuous 

 with the abdomen, and appears as if pushed back towards the sub- 

 lumbar region, it is said to be tucked up. Some authors also call it 

 a greyhound flank when it becomes a permanent retraction, the tucking 

 up being, in their opinion, only a transient disposition, always dis- 

 api^earing under an appropriate regimen. The greyhound flank, on the 

 contrary, constitutes a veritable defect, being " an indication that the 

 animal does not eat enough, which is the fault of a poorly-developed 

 appetite ; it is impossible to repair in a just measure the waste caused 

 by the action of the apparatus of locomotion, and as, by a singular 

 contradiction of nature, greyhound horses are usually endowed with 

 great energy, they are exposed to an early ruin if they are not used 

 with care, since the losses which they sustain are only slowly repaired." ^ 



Finally, if the flank unites the three preceding vicious conforma- 

 tions, — if, in other words, it is hollow, corded, and tucked up, — the 

 animal is said to be thin, poor. 



2d. Extent. — The extent of this region is estimated by its width, 

 measuring from the angle of the haunch to the last rib. This measure- 

 ment should be .as small as possible, and a flank of this kind is said to 

 be short or narroiv. Let us see the reasons for this. 



Most hippotomists assert that the width of the flank is in direct 

 relation with the length of the loins, and that the measure of the one 

 gives correctly that of the other. This assertion can be considered 

 only as relatively true, for the reason that the last rib, on account of 

 its projection backward, does not end where the lumbar region begins. 

 No doubt the width of the flank will, to a certain degree, depend upon 

 the great or small extent of the loin, for the rib comes more or less near 

 to the haunch. In order that this last proposition should become 

 rigorously true, it would be necessary that the length of the loins 



1 H. Bouley, Nouveau dictionnaire pratique, etc., t. vii. p. 54, art. " Flanc." 



