812 



DISEASES AND THEIE TEEATMENT, 



Fig. 716 represents the last six bones of a near fore foot, and is 

 another typical illustration of the waste and increase of substance, 

 mostly of bone. These phenomena, so marvelous in their character, 

 are more common to horses under adverse influences than to any 

 other race of animals. But this figure, and the succeeding one, 

 shows still further nature's provision; the elongations of bone, 

 transformation of cartilages and ligaments into bone, and the sub- 

 stance of one uniting with that of the other, to give strength, are 

 brought about by the dragging of the periosteum. That which 



FIG. 717. 



modern surgery has accomplished by transposing the membrane of 

 bone from one position over another, is done in the case of the 

 horse by the dragging leverage of shaft bones upon pliable interme- 

 diate structures, having their'fixed points upon the surface of bones 

 below, which constitutes their base of action, and that failing, a 

 new order of reparative construction ensues. 



Atrophy, in most instances, escapes notice, or from lack of 

 knowledge is alluded to under the vague phrase of " Contraction 

 of the foot." Then occur swellings, which are tortured with 

 assumed remedies; that is beginning at the wrong end, and in 

 the wrong manner to effect a cure or afford relief. The Fig. 

 716 was taken from one of the two fore feet, both of which were 



