268 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Twenty Belgian horses weighing from 755 to 850 kg. lost during the first 

 work period from 20 to GO kg. each, or an average of 42.75 kg. In the rest 

 period 5 horses regained or surpassed their original weight. During the second 

 work period 16 horses lost on an average 46.5 kg., and one of these lost 95 kg., 

 whereas 2 other horses gained 10 kg. each, and 2 horses 15 kg. each. Most of 

 the horses in this group regained their original weight In from 1 to 10 daj'S. 



Twenty light Belgian horses weighing from 645 to 730 kg. lost during the 

 first work period from 25 to 65 kg. each, an average of 41.25 kg. After the 

 3 days of rest 6 of them regained or surpassed their original weight. After 

 the second work period the loss ranged from 5 to S5 kg. each, or an average of 

 32 kg. All but 4 of the horses regained the original weight in from 1 to 9 days, 

 but these had not recovered it at the end of 14 days. 



Eight light Danish horses weighing from 590 to 660 kg. lost during the first 

 work period from 35 to 80 kg. each, an average of 51.1 kg., and none of them 

 regained the original weight after the 3 days' rest. At the end of the second 

 work period 4 had lost from 10 to 45 kg., an average of 28.75 kg., 3 had gained 

 5 kg. and 1 had gained 40 kg. It required from 1 to 6 days for this last group 

 of horses to recover the original weight. 



At the close of the working periods the pulse of each horse was taken. As 

 a rule from J to 3i hours elapsed before the pulse became normal. During the 

 entire experiment each horse received an extra feed of 3 to 4 kg. of oats per 

 day. It is suggested that by the determination of the loss in weight we have 

 a quantitative method of estimating the soundness and capacity for work of 

 draft animals. 



The determination of the shoulder slope of horses, M. MDller (Landw. 

 Jahrh., S7 (lOOS), No. 5, irp. 873-S93, figs. ,3. drjins. ;^).— The degree of obliquity 

 of the shoulder blade in horses has been determined by previous investigators 

 from the median ridge, but the author submits comparative measurements which 

 show that the ridge does not coincide and is not parallel with the median line 

 of the shoulder blade. 



In measurements obtained from 38 horses the deviation of the ridge from the 

 vertical ranged from 19° 30" to 39° 49", and the median line of the shoulder 

 blade ranged from 26° 51" to 44° 40". The difference between the two angles 

 in the same horse varied from 1° 53" to 11° 5". Hence, the shoulder blade is 

 much steeper than is commonly supposed. In judging horses the steepness of 

 the shoulder blade must be considered in connection with other factors. Too 

 steep a shoulder may be counterbalanced by a more horizontal humerus. 



The angles formed by other bones were also determined by the author. 



Comparative anatomical and physiological investigations of fast and slow 

 horses, K. L. von LtJTZOw (Lainhc. Jahrh., 37 (IHOS), No. 5, pp. 731-855). — In 

 this study the author presents data on the live weight, external body measure- 

 ments, weight of heart, lungs and different parts of the central nervous system, 

 volume of the thoracic cavity, stomach and cecum, volume and length of the 

 colon, and measurements of individual bones. 



It is pointed out that in the present state of our knowledge but little practical 

 application can be made from the data collected, its chief value being as a con- 

 tribution to the statistical study of variation and to furnish a stimulus for 

 further inquiry on the subject. There are, however, a few deductions which 

 may be obtained from the determinations made, among which are the following: 

 The thoracic cavity volume and weight of lung are larger in slow horses than in 

 fast horses. The heart weight is proportionally larger in fast horses. The 

 spinal cold is heavier in lean horses than in fat horses of tlie same group. The 

 cerebellum is larger in early castrated than in late castrated horses. 



