2o6 THE FORE LIMB. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE FORE LIMB. 



General View of the Fore Limb— Chief Duties of the Fore Limb — The 

 Shoulder — Humerus — Elbow — Fore-arm — Knee — Cannon — Fetlock — 

 Pastern — Hoof. 



General View of the Fore Limb. — The term "fore 

 limb" or "fore leg" is applied to the column of bones from 

 the shoulder blade to the coffin bone (inclusive), and the 

 attendant soft parts. As the chief muscles of the neck are 

 concerned in the movement of the fore limb, we must take 

 into consideration the conformation of the former part while 

 studying that of the latter. The shape of the muscles which 

 lie between the upper portion of the limb (above the elbow 

 joint) and the chest must not be neglected ; for they, 

 respectively, connect the limb to the trunk, and draw it 

 upwards and backwards. As the action of the neck 

 muscles, as regards the fore limb, has been considered in 

 Chapters X. and XVI. {see pp. 82 and 181), and that of the 

 other muscles in Chapter IV. {see pp. -^^^ and 38), they 

 need not be specially noticed here. I shall now examine 

 the nature of the work which the fore limb has got to do, 

 with the object of drawing conclusions as to the conformation 

 most suitable to it in particular cases. As its various parts 



