HORSES. 91 



perhaps blind, and in tho bands of some unfeeling wretch, who 

 cares for nothing but tho amount of labor he can obtain from 

 such a horse, and when the poor unfortunate animal is sick and 

 weary, is ever ready to apply with cruel force the lash. 



I say, also, let us do all we can to avoid the production of 

 constitutional diseases in our animals. The world cannot learn 

 to love and care kindly for such, as it does for those of fine form, 

 good quality and perfect organism. That which lies at the 

 foundation of the improvement of every stock, or the successful 

 management of it, is the fact — the common but too much 

 neglected maxim — that " like produces like." This is the gov- 

 erning law in every portion of animated nature ; there is not a 

 deviation from it in the vegetable world. 



In the breeding of our domestic animals, how important it is 

 to avoid the transmission of constitutional diseases. A want of 

 due attention in the breeding and rearing of animals by the 

 farmer, has been attended by more disappointment than any 

 other cause. 



How obvious is the necessity, then, of selecting breeding 

 animals, as far as human skill can discover, free from every taint 

 capable of propagation. Even in this enlightened age, much too 

 little attention is given to this most essential subject. It is 

 admitted by human, as well as veterinary pathologists, that 

 disease, temperament, internal and external defect in organ- 

 ization, can be inherited from both parents by their offspring. 



This physiological fact is not heeded during the warmth of 

 youth by the human family, and it is only in the decline of life 

 that, upon mature reflection, the truth appears, and at a time 

 when the sad effects have been made manifest, atid cannot be 

 remedied. That the same order of nature pervades the whole 

 animal kingdom, I need not dwell on, for it is proved to a demon- 

 stration by every yearly progress of our lives ; also, that if we 

 disobey the organic laws of creation, we must pay the penalty 

 in this life, individually, or in succession. 



The care and management that is now bestowed upon the 

 lower animals by the connoisseur in stock-breeding, and the 

 high price that is paid for size, style, color and speed of our best 

 breeds of horses, ought to induce our farming community to 

 give some attention to the general physiology of animals. The 

 cost of raising a horse of good quality is but little more than 



