EVOLUTION OF THE HORSE. 



hock and hind fetlock are called uietatarsal bones. Each of 

 our five metacarpal and metatarsal bones is furnished with a 

 digit, a synonym for either a toe or a finger ; but in the horse 

 the cannon-bone only is provided with a digit. I may 

 mention that the bones of each digit (the phalanges) are 

 numbered from above downwards. Thus the long pastern- 

 bone {see Fig. 3), is called the first phalanx ; the short- 

 pastern-bone, the second phalanx ; and the pedal or coffin- 

 bone, the third phalanx. 



If we examine the bones of the horse's limbs from, respec- 

 tively, the knees and hocks downward, we shall notice that 

 although the splint-bones form joints with the knee bones which 

 are immediately above them ; their lower ends do not, like that 

 of the cannon-bone, articulate with any other bones. Were a 

 man who knew nothing about the anatomy, working functions, 

 and diseases of any other animal except those of the horse, to 

 criticise the plan according to which the bones below the 

 knees and hocks were constructed ; he might justly remark 

 that for purposes of equine labour, it would have been better if 

 the cannon-bone and two splint-bones had been one bone of 

 corresponding size. Such a combination would have rendered 

 the column of bones stronger at that part, and would have 

 obviated the frequent evil effects of sprain to the interosseous 

 ligaments which connect each splint-bone to its cannon-bone. 

 I may here point out that the disease known in veterinary 

 surgery as " splint," is, as a rule, brought on by sprain of this 

 ligament. If we agree in considering the working of the laws 

 of nature to be perfect, we cannot accept the theory of special 

 creation ; but must regard the body of the horse, like that of 

 other animals, to be in a transition state ; in that it is con- 

 stantly, though slowly, accommodating itself to the conditions 



