lis The Compleat Horseman : or y 



the Shoulder : That Sinew or Mufcle is about the 

 bignefs of one's little Finger, very much ftretched 

 and ftifF, and lieth ftraight up and down all along 

 the Leg : Now, it is that Mufcle or Sinew which 

 maketh the motion of the Pattern- joint, and being, 

 ftretched after this fafhion keepeth the Joint for- 

 wards, and hindereth it to be in its ordinary fitu- 

 ation \ a certain token that it doth fo, is that thofe 

 Horfes which have neither of thefe two fore-named 

 Infirmities, have not this Mufcle ftretched, but 

 quite covered and hollow, fo that People with dif- 

 ficulty can find it out •, but in thofe who have them* 

 this Mufcle is found at the very firft feeling, and it 

 appeareth clearly to be ftretched, and not as natu- 

 raHy it mould. Having found out this Mufcle, 

 which is eafily done, you mult, with an Incifion- 

 knife, open the Skin downwards, four Fingers 

 breadth below the Ars or Fore-Thigh- Vein, then cut 

 the Mufcle or Sinew quite thro' crofs-ways, not all 

 at one cut, but by degrees, then turn your Incifion- 

 knife to the other fide of it, and per feci: the cutting 

 of it by degrees^ and not all at once, although you 

 muft at laft cut it quite through •, and after it is done, 

 wafh the Wound with Brandy, and put Salt in it, 

 and work the Horfe after he hath no more Swelling 

 where you cut him, and that the Wound is healed 

 up •, and thus the Pattern will fall into its natural 

 place by degrees, and if the Operation hath been 

 dexteroufly performed, the Horte will bleed but ve- 

 ry little, and the Wound will alfo heal up of its own 

 accord •, there are fome very fenfible Horfes which 

 will be eight or ten Days without lying after this 

 Operation, but People mutt not be ftirprized at it, 

 feeing thera is not the leaft hazard in it : Sometimes 

 People in making this Operation, through carelef- 

 nefs, cut the Ars or Fore-Thigh- Vein, when they 

 have made the Incifion too near the Vein, and then; 

 the Horfe will bleed very much, but there is not the 



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