6o2 a manual op veterinary physiology 



hind-limbs, for the head of the horse is very heavy, being from 

 40 to 50 pounds in weight, more or less, depending on size and 

 breed. 



The Centre of Gravity. — During the standing attitude this 

 lies near to the intersection of a horizontal line, below the 

 shoulder- joint and a vertical line passing about 6 inches behind 

 the elbow. During locomotion, jumping, draught, etc., the 

 position is constantly shifting from front to rear and from side 

 to side, depending on the position of the body and the pace. 



Lying Down. — The attitude assumed by a horse in lying down 

 is quite characteristic. He has only two positions — one flat on 

 his side, with the legs and head fully extended, and the other 

 with the head and spine raised, sitting obliquely on his chest. 

 He cannot sit directly on the sternum, owing to its sharp edge, 

 so the body inclines to one side in order to avoid it. In this 

 attitude of repose both knees and hocks are bent, all four feet 

 are brought under the body and arranged on one plan, which is 

 never departed from. If, for instance, he is sitting on his chest 

 inclined to the near side, the near fore-foot is placed close to the 

 breast-bone, the elbow touching the ground- — in fact, the body 

 is resting largely on the near elbow. The near hind-foot is under 

 the abdomen, the outer part of this limb, both hock and shank, 

 resting on the ground. The off fore-foot lies close to its elbow, 

 but outside it. The elbow does not rest on the heel of this foot, 

 as is so frequently taught, and consequently never suffers injury 

 from the heel of the shoe. The off hind-foot is flexed and brought 

 forward towards the elbow, while the point of the hock of this 

 limb rests on the ground. A ' capped elbow ' never occurs from 

 the heel of the shoe, but is due to the underneath elbow coming 

 in contact with the ground. Similarly, a capped hock may be 

 aggravated or originate from resting on the point of the hock 

 when lying. The horse, as a rule, sleeps fully extended on his 

 side, but, should he sleep in the chest position, he rests the chin 

 on the ground, often everting the lower lip, so that the teeth 

 take the pressure. Cattle and sheep repose on the chest. The 

 flat sternum is perfectly adapted to this, the only position 

 normally adopted. During sleep they turn the head round to 

 one side, the nose being placed towards the flank. 



The Act of Rising is only performed in one way by horses and 

 cattle, and in each animal the method is reversed. No horse 

 can rise until he has placed his fore-legs out in front. The first 

 effort made is to unbend each knee alternately, and get the feet 

 out in front, resting on the heels. The hind-legs are well flexed, 

 the feet placed under the centre of the belly, and the animal 

 reaches the standing position by means of the hind-legs, with the 

 aid of the fore. The body follows the head, and if the head be 



