816 



VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



of a strap or buckle, let alone the pressure of a saddle, is 

 sufficient to set up considerable injury ; this is the reason 

 why projecting spinous processes, as in high withers, are 

 so objectionable. Conversely, the low thick wither is 

 objectionable, for apart from the fact that with such a 

 conformation it is most difficult to retain the saddle in 

 its place, there is also the fact that by being thick they 

 are liable to be pinched, and spinous processes are just as 

 intolerant of pinching as they are of pressure from above. 



Moveynents of the Scapula. — The next point in the 

 structure of the back that must be glanced at is the 



Fig. 202. — Section through 

 the 8th Bone of the Back. 

 The dotted line sliows 

 the position and direc- 

 tion of the pannel. 



Fig. 203. — Section through the 17th 

 Bone of the Back. The dotted line 

 shows the position and direction of 

 the pannel. 



scapula. The anterior part of the body is slung between 

 the fore legs ; every movement of the limbs necessitates a 

 movement of the scapula, and the movements of the upper 

 end of this bone are such as would be produced were it 

 pivoted to the vertebras at its upper part. When the 

 neck of the scapula advances, the supero-anterior angle of 

 the scapula performs an upward and backward movement, 

 while the infero-posterior angle is depressed forwards and 

 downwards. These movements occur at the moment the 

 leg is advanced and the foot placed on the ground. While 

 the body is passing over the foot, a reverse movement of 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



