IV ANGLES OF PROGRESSION. 



he malformation, and when elevated until it touches the elhow, the 

 frog will be outside of the ulna. This is caused by the slight cui-va- 

 ture outward of the bones. The purpose of this is evident, as it 

 reduces the jar by bringing the concussion oblique on the joints. 

 Were the supports a straight column, it would not be long until the 

 padding between the bones would become inflamed, and in a short 

 time the bones would be diseased. The bones of the posterior part of 

 the frame are similar in respect to angles and attachments for the mus- 

 cles, although we find a greater degree of obliquity. The angle between 

 the OS innominatum — the bone which forms the slope of the hip — 

 and the femur corresponds with that of the scapula and humerus ; 

 but from the stifle to the hock there is a reverse angle, and from the 

 hock to the foot the inclination is again to the front. Thus there are 

 three pronounced angles behind to one in front, and the old writers 

 explained the necessity of this configuration to the bones being 

 connected with articulations, whereas the front was guarded by the 

 scapula being only attached to the frame with bands of muscular 

 fibre. 



The instantaneous photographs have coiTected naany of the old- 

 time errors, and though the deduction was correctly drawn in that 

 particular, a great deal of the reasoning has been upset. Thus it was 

 thought that the animal received the first shock, after the air-flight, 

 on the front leg, and the yielding of the muscular attachments of the 

 scapula to the body was to correct this. In the leap proper, like 

 going over an obstacle, this is correct ; but in the flying gallop the 

 first contact is with the hind foot, and in the square trot the hind 

 and fore feet strike the eai'th so nearly together that the photograph 

 fails to note any tiling but the slightest difierence. If diflferehce there 

 is, it is ill the first touch of the hind foot. But before entering on 

 the interesting lessons of the instantaneous photographs and the fund 

 of knowledge they present, it will be as well to consider more fully 

 the frame, its covering of muscles and the tendinous and ligamentary 

 attachments. There are immense muscles enveloping the quartei's, 

 extending over the loin and following the back-bone. Tiiey form 

 protuberances, called by horsemen the gaskin or lower thigh, and in 

 some horses nearly fill the space between the ham-string and tibia. 



