DISLOCATIONS 347 



will be turned up (Plate XLII, fig. 4), the animal going on the posterior 

 part of the foot and maybe the fetlock. This depends upon the tendon 

 of the extensor pedis being too short. The ligament also, which extends 

 from the outer and inferior part of the knee to the upper and anterior 

 part of the first phalanx, takes its share in producing this effect. Here 

 also, as in the first instance, must our remedies be regulated by the 

 amount or degree of distortion. 



" Thirdly, Occasionally we meet with instances of a bowing outwards 

 of the fetlock -joints. In such cases the external lateral ligaments are 

 too long, and the internal ones too short. Or in others, which are rare, 

 the reverse of this exists; when the fetlock-joints will approach each other 

 too near, the feet turning outwards. Of course, under such circumstances, 

 the lateral ligaments would be the reverse of the former as to their 

 comparative length. In either instance we should not be justified in 

 resorting to any surgical operation. In some slight cases, if proper atten- 

 tion be paid to the shape of the feet during the period of development, 

 much may be done towards improving the position of the bones we are 

 now considering. 



" Another kind of deformity often exists below the parts we have 

 been describing, namely, at the joints formed by the pedal bone and os 

 coronae, and to a slight extent between the os coronse and os suffraginis. 

 This, although there may be a natural tendency to it, often develops 

 during the growth of the animal, from a neglect of those who superintend 

 the rearing of colts, especially as to the wearing away of the hoofs; 

 allowing the inner and front part of the foot to be elongated, thereby 

 throwing the weight and the wear upon the outside of the foot, and thus 

 producing that condition commonly called ' pigeon-toed'. Or, on the other 

 hand, the outer and anterior part of the hoof may become similarly 

 elongated, and the weight is then thrown upon the inner side, the effect 

 of which is obvious. 



" In a horse with congenital malformed limbs, the bones, in the 

 process of growth, become fashioned to the form of the limb, so that if 

 the animal be neglected until he has arrived at adultism, no procedure, 

 either surgical or mechanical, will produce the effect we are desirous of 

 obtaining. But during growth, the parts being then pliable, by altering 

 the position of the foot, and by some contrivance placing the limb in a 

 state favourable to cause a proper development, our object may be gained. 



" In young horses it is common to meet with a knuckling forwards of 

 the hind fetlocks (Plate XLII, fig. 5), so much so that at times the front of 

 the joint is on a perpendicular line with the toe. This condition is seen 

 in most cases only at times, generally when the animal is standing; or, 



