Chap. VI. The Anatomy of a HORSE. 93 



Shank-bone. The feventh is joined on its upper End to 

 the third of the upper Rank, and below xo the Head of 

 the Shank-bone, and on its Infide to the foregoing, to wit, 

 the lixth. 



Thefe Bones are of Ufe, not only to fa- Their Ufe^ 

 cilitate the Motion of the Knee, but alfo 

 to ftrcnglhen it ; for by their convex Outfide, the Joint can 

 never be extended too far the contrary Way, and the Num- 

 ber of the lower Rank exceeding that of the upper Rank, 

 (as the upper End of the Shank- bone is broader than the 

 lower End of the Cubit) and as the Bones themfelves are 

 fomcwhat different in their Size from each other, like a 

 Piece of good Mafon-work, they cannot eafily be pull'd 

 afunder ; whereas if the Bancs of both Ranks were of 

 one Size and Number, and their Seams and Jun<fturc5 to 

 run ftreighr through, it would be impoffible but every the 

 kaft fah'e Step muft diforder them in fuch Manner, as to 

 occafion an irrecoverable Lamenefs. As to their Motion, 

 although by this Sort of Articulation they feem as if they 

 were incapable of any fingly ; yet it is very certain, the 

 whole have a fmall Tendency inward as often as the Shank 

 is bended, though that be fcarcely difcernable, and by vir- 

 tue of the cartilaginous Ligament, which covers all thofc 

 tittle Bones, and ties them together, they cover themfelves 

 as with a Spring ; fo that the Motion of that Joint muil 

 be more eafy and quick, than it could poffibly be by any 

 other Kind of Articulation. 



But it would oblige me to go beyond the Limits of this 

 {hort Abridgment, if I fhould explain the Mechanilin of 

 the Bones i I fhall therefore proceed to the ctl cl i 

 Shank- bone, which comes next in Order, ^^^^ 

 and that which reaches from the Knee to the 

 great Paftern, and anfwers to the Back of the Hand in Man. 

 As that confifts of five Bones, the Shank bone of a Horfe 

 is made up of three, having one much larger and longer 

 than either of the other. It is joined by its uoper Part to 

 the lowermoft Range of the fmall Bones, and below to the 

 upper End of the great Paftern, by a reciprocal Articulation, 

 having two round Heads, and three fmall Cavities, where- 

 by thefe two Bones both receive, and are received into each 

 other, at the lower End of the Shoulder-bone and the up- 

 per End of the Cubit. 



To each Side of this Bone is faftened a Splint, in Shape 

 like a Bodkin, being thick and round at the upper End, 

 * bu: 



