556 THE DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF TENDINOUS STRUCTURE 
are connected. In all cases, therefore, where rupture of the tendon 
is caused by the weight of the body, these bands must suffer lesion, 
and only when the tendon is lacerated by the contraction of the 
muscle could they possibly escape. That they are principally 
concerned in that deformity known as “contraction of the ten- 
dons,” I feel little hesitation in affirming. A colt suffering in this 
respect was slaughtered, and I inspected the member which had 
not been subjected to operation. The heel was greatly elevated, 
but I found the suspensory bands of the flexor tendons as tense 
as in a limb of healthy conformation ; and because during such a 
state of parts the muscle does not lose its activity, I must regard 
contraction of the flexor tendons as resulting from chronic inflam- 
mation of the suspensory bands causing their fibrous structure to 
shorten or contract, and view the elevation of the heel as induced 
by this cause, and not as consequent upon the contractile energy 
of the muscular substance. 
As the suspensory bands exercise so great and evident an in- 
fluence on the obliquity of the fetlock, it is but fair to conclude the 
uprightness of the pasterns depends upon a shortening of these 
ligamentous supports, though, from the manner in which the animal 
thus afflicted performs its work, such diminution of length is un- 
attended with pain. 
To the same cause, namely, shortening of the ligamentous bands 
connected with the flexor tendons, but attended, in this instance, 
with sensation, I would likewise attribute the “ knuckling” of old 
and hardly- worked horses ; nor can 1 otherwise than imagine these 
parts are frequently the seat of lameness. When we have viewed 
their structures, fully comprehended their uses, and been made 
conscious of their importance, it will be felt that they are greatly 
exposed to injury — that no part of any organ in the body is more 
likely to suffer; and their position and their function enable us, 
through them, to explain many pathological and physiological facts 
which otherwise would want interpretation. Directing our atten- 
tion to the extensor tendons, we shall find the provision made to 
render traction upon the muscular fibre impossible during the 
motion of the limb no less marked, and the various structures so 
distributed that both passive and active have their proper function. 
The flexor brachii appears to be the muscle which most affects 
the obliquity of the shoulder, and the maintenance of the scapula 
in its proper position might be considered to be its constant office. 
This, however, is effected by tendinous tissue. The flexor brachii 
is commonly described as sending off a tendon to the extensor 
metacarpi magnus ; but if that tendinous slip which connects the 
two muscles be traced in both directions, it will be found to be 
continuous from the coracoid process of the scapula to the head of 
