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MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
are strongly implanted into it. The lower surface is smaller 
than either of the others, and is irregularly flattened, and almost 
wholly articulatory; it is embraced by the superior part of the 
large cuneiform bone. The two bones above described rest on 
two others, the os cuboides , or cube-shaped bone, e, behind, and 
the larger wedge-shaped bone, d , in front. This larger wedge 
shaped bone is supported by two small ones,/, and these two 
smaller ones and the cube-shaped bone by the upper heads of 
the shank-bone, h y and the splint-bone, g. The cube-bone is 
placed on the external splint-bone and the cannon-bone; the 
small wedge-bone chiefly rests on the inner splint-bone, which 
cannot be seen in our figure, and the middle wedge-bone rests 
on the shank-bone, h , alone. All these bones are connected 
together by very strong ligaments, which prevent dislocation 
but are sufficiently flexible to allow a slight degree of motion 
among them ; and the surfaces which are opposed to and move 
upon each other are thickly covered by elastic cartilage. 
b. The inferior end or base of the tibia. This bone reaches from 
the stifle to the hock; it is connected with the round bone 
above, and the os calcis below. 
c. The os calcis , which forms the posterior projecting part, called 
the point of the hock. 
d. The os cuneiforme magnum , large wedge-shaped, or cuneiform- 
bone, situated immediately under the astragalus. 
e. The os cuboides , or cuboid bone, situate on the outer part of 
the hock. 
/. The os cuneiforme , or middle cuneiform bone, situated imme¬ 
diately underneath the large cuneiform bone, and upon the 
hind cannon bone. 
g. The splint-bone. 
h. Upper head of the shank-bone, or metatarsi magnum. 
This joint is subjected to very great stress and weight, 
and consequently peculiarly liable to injury both in the 
draught and during rapid motion. However, nature has 
constructed it with wonderful skill; and it is, by the beau- 
tiful adjustment of its parts, rendered less liable to disease 
than might be expected from the important and heavy 
duties it has to perform. The provisions made for this end 
