18 VETERINARY STUDIES 



to fracture and in the female this may interfere with the birth 

 of her young. 



The external angle of the ilium is often fractured, causing the 

 deformity known as ' ' hipped " or " hip shot. ' ' The shaft of the 

 femur is occasionally fractured as in throwing for surgical 

 operation — usually a hopeless fracture, except in very young 

 animals. The patella of the horse is quite subject to dislocation 

 over the external condyle of the femur causing the condition 

 known as "stifled," the horse being unable to bring the hind 

 leg forward. The shaft of the tibia is a common seat of frac- 

 ture, usually from kick while weight is on the injured limb. 

 The tarsal bones at the lower, inner, front part of the hock are 

 often affected with bone spavin, due to injury and heredity and 

 usually characterized by local inflammation, an abnormal growth 

 of bone (exostosis) and a typical, chronic lameness. The meta- 

 tarsals, phalanges, and navicular bones are subject to about the 

 same disorders as the corresponding parts of the front limb. 



