CHAP. V.] FORE AND HIND, SIMILAR. 517 



tured upon in this book, and elsewhere, as to the 

 structure of the foot, and all the dissections we 

 have made from time to time, we have taken the 

 fore leg and foot only, with one unimportant ex- 

 ception. We know not why this preference was 

 made ; we believe the custom to be general, but of 

 very little importance. For, the hind foot, though 

 a little smaller, with thinner horn at the toe, and 

 somewhat more upright in form, corresponds ex- 

 actly in all its parts with the fore one, until age 

 and deformity comes on ; the bach sinew descend- 

 ing from the hough behind the pastern bones, until 

 its insertion underneath the coffin-bone of the hind 

 leg, in the same manner as before described, as 

 pertaining to the knee and bones of the fore leg. 



When we reflect upon this strict accordance be- 

 tween the structure of the fore foot and the hind, 

 and then look over and lament the numerous dis- 

 orders that the first is liable to, whilst the hinder 

 one is comparatively free, it gives reason to pause. 

 But without entering upon an elaborate investiga- 

 tion of this difference as to health, we come to the 

 conclusion that we ought to attribute diseases of 

 the feet, as we have already those of the body, to 

 excessive hedt of the vascular system, promoted by 

 the great exertions the animal is put to, and the 

 rude concussions the fore feet in particular endure 

 at every step, thus creating heat and attracting 

 hither any evil humours that may afflict the body 

 generally. In the manege, 'tis true, and on some 

 other occasions of great shew, horses are brought 



