( 205 ) 



CHAPTKR XIX. 



THE HIND LIMB. 



General View of the Hind Limb— The Pelvis — ^Thigh and Stifle — Tibia — 

 Hock — Cannon and Fetlock — Pastern and Hoof. 



As many points of resemblance exist between the fore and 

 hind limb, I shall assume, in order to avoid needless 

 repetition, that my readers, before arriving at this chapter, 

 have studied the preceding one, and also Chapter VII L, in 

 which I have tried to explain the action of both pairs of 

 legs. 



General View of the Hind Limb.— As the pelvis, 

 which is analogous to the shoulder-blade of the fore leg, is 

 essentially a portion of the hind-quarters, I have reserved its 

 consideration for this chapter, instead of the one (Chapter 

 XVI L) in which I have attempted to treat of the trunk. 

 Although the chief function of the hind limb is that of 

 propulsion, it has, like the fore extremity, to bear weight ; 

 but to a lesser extent, and is also less exposed to the effects 

 of concussion. Thus we see that while the shoulder-blade 

 is connected to the body by muscles which work like a 

 spring, in order to save the parts from the ill effects of 

 concussion ; the pelvis is firmly united to the spine, so 

 that the force of propulsion by the hind limbs may be 

 transmitted to the body with but little mechanical loss. 

 The pastern and hoof of the hind-quarters are naturally 

 more upright than those of the fore hand, and, con- 



