ON THE STABLE. 147 



let the urine run oft' from the htter*. Thus 

 the horse stands constantly up hill, by which 

 position he naturally becomes so much fatigued, 

 that he may be said to have performed half his 

 work before he is led out of the stable. For 

 the ligaments of his joints, and the flexor 

 muscles of his legs, are thereby perpetually ex- 

 tended. If the reader will stand for a few mi- 

 nutes with his toes higher than his heels, tlie 

 pain he will feel in the calves of his legs will 

 soon convince him of the truth of this remark. 

 Hence, when the horse is not eating, he always 

 endeavours to find his level, either by standing 

 across the stall, or else as far back as his halter 

 will permit, so that his hind legs may meet 

 the ascent of the other side of the channel. 



* This is done with a view to save straw, w-hich in some 

 situations is probably an object of importance ; but with 

 farmers it would be an advantage to have level pavements 

 without drains, in which case the urine would be absorbed 

 by the straw, and from the quantity of salts that it contains, 

 would produce better manure, whereas upon the old con- 

 struction of the pavement it is Avasted, 



L 2 But 



