BROKEN KNEES. 337 



concussion is thus spread over the whole of them— shared oy the whole of 

 them ; and, by the peculiarity of their connexion, rendered harmless. 



These six distinct bones, united to each other by numerous and powerful 

 ligaments, will also afford a far stronger joint than the apposition of any two 

 bones, however perfect and strong might be the capsular ligament, or by what- 

 ever other ligaments it might be strengthened. In addition to the connexion 

 between the individual bones, there is a perfect capsular ligament here, extend- 

 ing from the bone of the arm to those of the leg ; and the result of the whole is, 

 that the hardest work and the severest accidents produce little deformity, and 

 no dislocation in the knee : nor do the shocks and jars of many a vcar cause 

 inflammation or disease. It is an undeniable fact, that such is the perfect 

 construction of this joint, and to so great a degree does it lessen concussion 

 that the injuries resulting from hard work are, almost without an exception 

 found below the knee, which seems to escape the injuries of the hock. There is 

 a remarkable difference in the effects of work on the knee and the hock. The 

 knee is subject to enormous concussion in its strict sense. The hock to a some- 

 what different work. The knee altogether escapes bony enlargements and in.- 

 flammations of the ligaments, like spavins ; and, what is more remarkable, it also- 

 escapes the damages to which the anterior fetlock is liable from precisely the 

 same concussion as the knee. 



The seventh bone, the trapezium, so called from its quadrangular figure, is 

 placed (see M, p. 108) behind the others, and does not bear the slightest portion 

 of the weight. It, however, is exceedingly useful. Two of the flexor muscles, 

 already described, proceed from the bone of the arm, and are inserted into it ; and 

 being thus thrown off the limb, have a less oblique direction given to them, and, 

 therefore, according to the principle of the lever, act with considerably more 

 power. It is also useful in another way. As the tendons of the various mus- 

 cles descend the limbs, they are tied down, as we have described, by strong 

 ligamentous bands : this is particularly the case in the neighbourhood of the 

 joints. The use of it is evident. The extensor tendons, which lie princi- 

 pally on the front of the leg, are prevented from starting and strengthened and 

 assisted in their action ; but the flexor tendons which are at the back would 

 be liable to friction, and their motion impeded, if they were bound down 

 too tightly. This projecting bone prevents the annular or ring-like ligament 

 from pressing too closely on the main flexor tendons of the foot ; and, while it 

 leaves them room to play, leaves room likewise for a little bag filled with mucus 

 to surround them, which mucus oozing slowly out, supplies the course of the 

 tendons with a fluid that prevents much injurious friction. 



The knee should be broad. It should present a very considerable width, com- 

 pared with the arm above, or the shank below. In proportion to the breadth of 

 the knee is the space for the attachment of muscles, and for the accumulation of 

 ligamentous expansions and bands. In proportion to the breadth of the knee 

 there will be more strength ; and likewise the direction of some muscles will 

 be less oblique, and the course of others will be more removed from the centre 

 of motion, in either of which cases much power will be gained. 



BROKEN KNEES. 

 The treatment of broken knees is a subject of considerable importance, for 

 many horses are sadly blemished, and others are destroyed, by wounds in the 

 knee-joint. The horse, when falling, naturally throws his knees forward ; 

 they receive all his weight and are sometimes very extensively lacerated. The 

 first thing to be done is, by very careful washing with warm water, to cleanse 

 the wound from all gravel and dirt. It must then be ascertained whether the 

 joint is penetrated. The grating of the probe on one of the bones of the knee, 



