than spasm of the muscles which keeps the patella drawn up.
The moment they relax the previously immovable limb and useless
foot have their function restored as if by magic, but are
immediately thrown out of gear in the course of a few minutes as a
recurrence of the tetanus of the petallar muscle takes place. The
fascia of the thigh, like that of the arm, is a most potent factor
in giving assistance to the constant strain imposed on the muscles
of the limbs during standing.

Below the hock the hind limb is arranged like that of the fore, the
deep flexor (perforans) receiving its additional support from the
"check ligament," as in the fore leg.

The natural attitude of standing adopted by the horse is to rest on
three legs--one hind and two fore. If he is alert, he stands on all
four limbs; but if standing in the ordinary manner, he always rests
on one hind leg. He does not remain long in this position without
changing to the other. Hour by hour he stands, shifting his weight
at intervals from one to the other hind leg, and resting its fellow
by flexing the hock and standing on the toe. He never spares his
fore-limbs in this manner in a state of health, but always stands
squarely on them.

Hip Lameness.

Fortunately, because of the heavy musculature which goes to form a part
of the locomotive apparatus of the rear extremity, hip lameness is
comparatively rare. While the term is in itself ambiguous and signifies
nothing more definite than does "shoulder lameness," yet diagnosis of
almost any condition that may be classed under the head of "hip
lameness" is not easy except in cases where the cause is obvious, as in
wounds of the musculature and certain fractures. To the complexity which
the gait of the quadruped contributes, because of its being four-legged,
there is added the complicated manner of articulation of the bones of
the hind leg. This involves the hip in the manner of diagnostic problems
and because of the inaccessibility of certain parts, owing to the bulk
of the musculature of these parts, diagnosis of some hip ailments
becomes an intricate problem. Consequently, in some instances, before
one may arrive at definite and enlightening conclusions, repeated
examinations are necessary as well as a knowledge of reliable history
and recorded observations of the subject over a considerable period.

Rheumatic affection