THE EXTERNAL CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. 489 
Then if it is due to a microbe, we must procure such sanitary 
measures in order to avoid this dreaded malady and view from 
a critical standpoint, in which there is neither honor nor fame 
attached, and upon which our lives are pending. Thanking one 
and all kindly, the subject is with you. 
THE EXTERNAL CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. 
By Prof. E. A. A. Grange, V.S., Michigan.* 
(Continued from page 426.) 
Between the knee and the fetlock we have a part familiarly 
known as the canon (Plate I, 32); it is composed principally of 
the large canon bone in front, with tendons, called the back 
tendons, behind. In shape it should be flat from side to side, 
the back tendons should stand boldly out behind, leaving an 
evident line of demarkation between them and the front part of 
the region, they should be hard, almost bone-like, to the touch, 
and free from all puffiness. The posterior part of this region 
may or may not be clothed with long hair, according to the 
breed or fashion of the times. The skin covering the tissues 
should lie close to the bone and tendon, producing the sensation 
when handled that all is skin and bone. Below ths fetlock joint 
and above the hoof we have a region designated the pastern, 
which is a most important part of the leg, it being the seat of 
that very troublesome disease, ringbone. Besides examining 
this part for disease, we should regard its shape and direction 
according to the uses the horse is intended for, and if it is to be 
used as a saddle horse the kind with long oblique pasterns are 
more elastic and graceful in their movements than the short 
upright sort, which are often unpleasant to the equestrian on 
account of the concussion produced by the more or less upright 
columns of bone. Our experience has been that we usually 
find straight shoulders in horses with upright pasterns. In horses 
used for heavy coach or draft purposes the pastern may be com¬ 
paratively shorter, stouter and more upright than those used for 
*A reprint from Bulletin no, Experiment Station, State Agricultural College. 
