THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXXI, 
No. 366. 
JUNE, 1858. 
Fourtli Series, 
No. 42. 
Communications and Cases. 
THE POSITION ASSUMED BY THE FORE-EOOT 
OF THE HORSE IN THE VARIED MOVEMENTS 
OF THE LIMB. 
By Joseph Gamgee, Sen., M.R.C.V.S., New Veterinary 
College, Edinburgh. 
The comments on Mr. Lupton’ s paper on the position 
assumed by the horse’s fore foot in progression, which have 
been made by Mr. Paton, induce me to write on the subject 
earlier than I otherwise should have done. The question is 
of unusual importance, and I think great praise is due to 
Mr. Lupton as an original observer, especially at so early a 
period of his career in the veterinary profession, and it cer- 
tainly augurs Well for his future. About a year ago, Mr. 
Lupton called on me in London, and my views expressed to 
him at the time, though not in accordance with many I had 
heard propounded early in life at the veterinary college, ac- 
corded on one point with the old accepted opinion, that in 
dropping the foot in the act of walking, the toe first touched 
the ground. 
Since my Conversation with Mr. Lupton, but particularly 
since the appearance of his excellent article, I have carefully 
Considered and investigated the matter. 
Now my conviction is that, in the solid-hoofed quadrupeds, 
the general law is obeyed which guides the movements of 
the limbs in all animals, and that in the horse, the con- 
tact with the ground not only with the fore but also with 
the hind feet, occurs first at the posterior and last at the an- 
terior part of the foot. Let us carefully observe progression 
in the cloven-footed animals and in the dog and cat, the 
camel, and the colossal elephant — mark the, movement in all 
varieties of birds, and the more firmly shall we believe that 
provision has been made to ward off concussion, and for the 
least expenditure of muscular force in the propulsion of the 
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