Excluding *epizootic diseases, it would be difficult to find any cause of inefficiency among army horses, equal to that produced by saddle injuries.  It has always been so, for the reason that insufficient attention has been paid to the question of prevention, and few realize the extraordinary damage which may be inflicted in a very short time by an ill fitting saddle or collar.                                        *a rapidly spreading disease

Its frequency is enormously increased by ignorance, indifference and want of intelligence, singly or combined.

The construction of the back is such that it lends itself to injury, and invites trouble by the very peculiarity and delicacy of its organization.

The basis of a sound scheme for the prevention of injuries from saddles and harness can only be laid down by a knowledge of the structure of the parts.  All else is guesswork.  There is probably no other branch of animal management where a knowledge of the structure of the body is so essential to a clear conception of the subject.

The spine
The spine is composed of a chain of bones, each link moving on the one in front of and behind it.  It is true the movement is limited, but small as it is, it is of the utmost importance.

Bony processes of the spine
A reference to this figure shows that throughout the whole length of the spine may be seen a bony process which grows from the upper part of each link in the chain.  The processes in front are very long, and their summit forms the withers; those behind are short and broad; the front processes look backwards, those behind look forwards.

The ridge of the backbone
The upper part of the bony processes form the ridge of the backbone.  They do not represent the spine proper [the links of which are more deeply seated], but they represent the only part of the spine which can be examined and felt, and they are the seat of all the bone trouble which may be found in a bad sore back.