CHAPTEE I. 



THE BONES OF THE FOOT. 



We have agreed to consider the horse's foot as beginning at 

 the fetlock joint, and have, therefore, to study (1) the lower 

 end of the great metacarpus ; (2) the suffraginis bone ; (3) the 

 two sesamoid bones; (4) the coronet bone; (5) the pedal bone; 

 and (6) the navicular bone. The relations of these bones are 

 shown in fig. 11, and those of the bones to surrounding parts 

 in fig. 10. 



1. The Lower End of the Great Metacarpus. 

 (Figs. 10 and 11, A.) 



The metacarpus or cannon is the long bone which begins at 

 the knee, and is continued downwards in an almost perpen- 

 dicular direction to the fetlock joint. Its lower end presents 

 an articular surface extending from side to side, covered with 

 articular cartilage and rendered irregular by three prominences 

 and two depressions. The middle prominence or ridge extends 

 furthest forward, and is the highest both in front and behind. 

 The lateral prominences are broader, and are separated from 

 the middle prominence by two shallow depressions. At the 

 sides of the lower end of the metacarpus are two rough grooves 

 for the attachment of ligaments. The articular surface is in 

 contact with that of the os suffraginis both in front and below, 

 while behind and below the joint is completed by the anterior 

 surfaces of the sesamoid bones. 



2. The Suffraginis Bone or First Phalanx 

 (Figs. 10 and 11, B; Figs. 12 and 13, A) 



Extends between the great metacarpus and coronet bone or 

 second phalanx in an oblique direction downwards and forwards, 



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