BREAKING DOWN. This accident often occurs in racing, and
sometimes in hunting, but very rarely upon the road. A strain iu
the back sinews is sometimes called by this name ; but, when a
horse breaks down, the fetlock joint, when he rests on that leg,
absolutely bears upon the ground. This accident is supposed to
depend on a rupture of the great suspensory ligament of the leg
; but sometimes it is occasioned by a rupture of the ligaments
of the pastern, and a consequent dislocation of the small with
the large pasterns. If we examine the tendons and ligaments on
the back part of the shank, we shall find that the great flexor,
or perforaus tendon, is supported by a strong ligament, nearly
as large as itself, which proceeds from the back part of the
knee, or from the upper and posterior part of the great
metacarpal or canon bone. About three or four inches down, it
joins the perforaus tendon, and becomes intimately mixed with
it. If this part is examined, it will clearly appear that a
rupture of the suspensory lig