ON THE STABLE. 169 



the horse's belly, upon entering the stable, to 

 induce him to stale; but this is not a good prac- 

 tice, for the animal functions become so much 

 controlled by this association of two diiferent 

 actions, as to be incapable of performing their 

 office without such an artificial stimulus. 

 Whistling alone is sufficient for this purpose. 



In this place it will not be improper to 

 point out the bad consequences of forcing a 

 horse to travel, for a great length of time, with- 

 out permitting him to void his urine, for by 

 being thus obliged to retain it, the sphincter of 

 the neck of the bladder acquires the habit of 

 contracting so strongly, as to become insensible 

 to the natural stimulus of the accumulation of 

 the fluid contained within it. From this cause, 

 there are but few old horses which are not af- 

 flicted, more or less, with strangury. 



