EXTERNAL STRUCTURE. 65 



the form of muscles and tendons ; and these levers are differently con- 

 nected, and act in different directions ; and he will be the best judge of 

 horses who, while he has loved, and lived among them, is somewhat 

 acquainted with the circumstances in which mechanical power is gained 

 or lost. 



In speaking then of the structure of this animal, and the points which 

 guide the opinion of real judges of him, we shall, as briefly and as simply 

 as we are able, explain those fundamental principles on which his useful- 

 ness and beauty must depend. We require one kind of horse for slow 

 and heavy draught, and another for lighter and quicker work : one as a 

 pleasant and safe roadster ; another with more speed and equal continu- 

 *ance as a hunter; and another still is wanted for the race-course. What 

 is the peculiarity of structure — what are the particular points that will 

 fit each for his proper business, and, to a certain degree, unfit him for 

 every thing else ? The farmer will require a horse of all work, that 

 can carry him to market and take him round his farm, on which he can 

 occasionally ride for pleasure, and which he must sometimes degrade to 

 the dung-cart or the harrow. What combination of powers will enable 

 the animal to discharge most of these duties well, and all of them to a 

 certain extent profitably ? 



Much time spent among horses, an acquired love of them, and a 

 little, sometimes, possibly, too dearly-bought experience, may give the 

 agriculturist some insight into these matters. We will try whether we 

 cannot assist him in this affair ; whether we cannot explain to him the 

 reason why certain points must be good, and why a horse without them 

 must, of necessity, be good for nothing. Perhaps some useful rules may 

 thus be more deeply impressed upon his memory, or some common, but 

 dangerous prejudices may be discarded, and a considerable degree of error, 

 disappointment, and expense avoided. 



It is first of all necessary to give a sketch of the Anatomy of the Horse, 

 in which we shall endeavour to elucidate those numerous and beautiful 

 instances of wise and benevolent design, exhibited in the structure of this 

 valuable animal, and which will render our study of him more interesting ; 

 while many a hint of practical utility will be gained. 



If we treat of this at a considerable length, let it be remembered, that 

 the horse is our noblest servant, and that, in describing the structure and 

 economy of his frame, we are, in a great measure, describing that of other 

 domestic quadrupeds, and shall hereafter have to speak only of points of 

 difference required by the different services and uses for which they were 

 destined. And further, let it be remembered that it is only by being well 

 acquainted with the structure and anatomy of the horse that we can appre- 

 ciate his shape and uses, or understand the different diseases to which he 

 is liable. VVe trust the reader who may fancy us rather prolix on this 

 head will, before the work is finished, feel the full value of what we 

 purpose to explain. It is from want of knowledge of the anatomy of the 

 horse, that much of the mass of ignorance and prejudice which exists, as 

 to the diseases, &c., to which the horse is subject, is to be referred ; and 

 we deem it one of the most important objects of this treatise to reform this 

 ignorance, and remove these prejudices. 



It will be proper here, once for all, to caution the reader, who has hitherto 

 been unaccustomed to reading books of science, against being deterred by 

 the sight of a few of what are termed hard names. The fact is, that science 

 must have, to a certain extent, a new language to express minutely and 

 accurate!) the particular parts or things to be described; and this is the 



