44 THE HORSE. 



withers and the remarkable depth of his shoulders. He 

 is so perfect in these two points, that they entirely over- 

 took the position of his shoulder-blades. In place of 

 being well slanted, the blades are nearly perpendicular ; 

 and this one defect has consigned to the collar an ani- 

 mal who, in many respects, would be particularly valu- 

 able for the saddle. So gi'eat is the effect of his 

 upright shoulder-blades, that he is not safe even in 

 harness. 



There is a peculiarity in the attachment of the shoul- 

 der-blade to the body, which does not occur in any other 

 part of the animal. All other bones are united toge- 

 ther by the inten^ention of cartilages or joints ; but in 

 this case, the union with the body is effected solely by 

 means of muscular substance. There is nothing ap- 

 proximating to a joint. The shoulder-blade is slung, 

 as it were, in a mass of muscle. This arrangement 

 senses completely to break the shock of the gallop or 

 leap, and, at the same time, renders shoulder-lameness 

 a very rare occmTCuce, except as the consequence of a 

 direct local injmy. If the smith and famer were aware 

 of this fact, they would not trace to the shoulder, as 

 they do, one-half of the diseases which are located in 

 the foot and leg. By referring the lameness to the 

 shoulder, the smith can easily get rid of the results of 

 bad shoeing. 



The humerus, or lower bone of the shoulder, is strong 

 and round in its shaft. It reaches from the lower end 



