120 ON RESPIRATION, 



points from whence the diaphragm takes its ori- 

 gin arc removed farther from each other. 



This being the natural process of respira- 

 tion, it will not be difficult to conceive how 

 much it must be impeded when the saddle is 

 girthed extremely tight, or too far back towards 

 the flank ; but this inconvenience does not end 

 with the removal of the saddle, for the horse 

 is constantly girthed with a tight surcingle 

 whilst he is in the stable, with a view to keep 

 up his belly. In either of these situations, re- 

 spiration is carried on principally by the action 

 of the diaphragm, as the intercostal muscles 

 cannot perform their office. 



Old horses are so sensible of this inconve- 

 nience, that, during the act of girthing, they 

 swell out their chests as much as possible, by 

 which means the girths become slack when the 

 chest returns to its former dimensions. 



The 

 3 



