262 



THE HORSE. 



disadvantageously, on account of being placed so near the joint or centre 

 of motion. 



The muscle at /, descending likewise from the sacrum, and from the 

 first bones of the tail, runs down posterior to the last muscle, and forms 

 the hinder border of the haunch. It is inserted into the lower bone of the 

 thigh, and assists in performing the same kind of motion. All these 

 muscles are particularly prominent in the thorough-bred horse, and are the 

 source of his strength and speed ; and hence another very important point 

 in the horse. These muscles, to perform their full action, should be so 

 developed, that the horse, when the observer stands behind him, although 

 wide enough at the loins and haunch, should yet be perceptibly wider at 

 the thighs. The following cut, containing one excellence above, and many 

 defects below, will illustrate our meaning. 



CUT OF THE HAUNCH AND HIND LEGS. 



STRAIN OF THE ROUND BONE. 



The joint of the upper bone of 

 the thigh with the haunch is com- 

 monly called the whirl or round 

 bone. It has been stated, that it 

 has, in some rare instances, been 

 dislocated and fractured: it is, 

 however, much oftener sprained, 

 but not so often as the groom or 

 farrier imagine. There is nothing 

 peculiar in the lameness to detect 

 injury of this part, except that fre- 

 quently the horse will drag his 

 \ei^ after him on the toe. Injury 

 of the round bone, or hip joint, 

 will be principally discovered by 

 heat and tenderness in the situation 

 of the joint. A part so deeply 

 seated is treated with difficulty. 

 Fomentations should first be used 

 to abate the inflammation, and after 

 that an active blister should be 

 applied. Strains of this joint are 

 not always immediately relieved, 

 and the muscles of the limb con- 

 siderably waste ; and therefore it 

 may be necessary to repeat the 

 blister, while absolute rest should 

 accompany every stage of the 

 treatment. It may even be re- 

 quisite to fire the part, or, as a 

 last resort, a charge may be put 

 over the joint, and the horse turned 

 out for two or three months. 



