690 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



That form of chest which approaches nearest to a circle, while it admits of sufficient 

 expansion and contraction, is the best certainly for some animals, and for all under peculiar 

 circumstances, and with reference to the discharge of certain functions. This was the grand 

 principle on which Mr. Bakewell proceeded, and on which all our improvements in the breed 

 ing of cattle were founded. 



In the heavy draft-horse, the circular chest is no disadvantage, and it gives him what we 

 require, weight to oppose the weight of his load. Speed is not demanded of him. 



Some of our saddle-horses and cobs have barrels round enough, and we value them on 

 account of it, for they are always in condition, and they rarely tire. But when we look at 

 them more carefully, there is just that departure from the circular form of which mention 

 has been made that happy medium between the circle, and the ellipse, which retains the 

 capacity of the one, and the expansibility of the other. Such a horse is invaluable for com 

 mon purposes, but he is seldom a horse of speed. If he is permitted to go his own pace, and 

 that not a slow one, he will work on forever; but if he is too much hurried, he is soon 

 distressed. 



Then for the usual purposes of the road, and more particularly for rapid progression, 

 search is made for that form of the chest which shall unite, and to as great a degree as possi 

 ble, considerable capacity in a quiescent -state, and the power of increasing that capacity when 

 the animal requires it. There must be the broad chest for the production of muscles and 

 sinews, and the deep chest to give the capacity or power of furnishing arterial blood equal to 

 the most rapid exhaustion of vitality. 



This form of the chest is consistent with all the lightness that can be rationally required. 

 The broad-chested horse, or he that with moderate depth at the girth swells and barrels out 

 immediately behind the elbow, may have as light a forehead and as elevated a wither as the 

 horse with the narrowest chest, but the animal with the barrel approaching too near to rotun 

 dity is invariably heavy about the shoulders and low at the withers. It is to the mixture of 

 the Arabian blood that we principally owe this peculiar and advantageous formation of the 

 horse. The arch is light, some would say too much so before, but immediately behind the 

 arms, the barrel almost invariably swells out, and leaves plenty of room where it is most 

 wanted for the play of the lungs, and at the same time where the weight does not press so 

 exclusively on the fore -legs, and expose the feet to concussion and injury. 



Many horses with narrow chests, and a great deal of daylight under them, have plenty 

 of spirit and willingness for work. They show themselves off well, and exhibit the address 

 and gratify the vanity of their riders on the parade, or on the park, but they have not the 

 appetite nor the endurance that will carry them through three successive days of hard work. 



Five out of six of the animals that die from inflamed lungs are narrow-chested. There 

 are many other important points, but that which is most of all connected with the general health 

 of the animal, and with combined fleetness or bottom, is a deep, broad, and swelling chest, 

 with sufficient lengthening of the sternum, or breast-bone, beneath. The impropriety of tight- 

 girthing may readily be seen, especially where it is unnecessary, as in the stable, for instance, 

 or when the rider is off from the saddle. 



The sternum, or breast-bone, is a long, flat, spongy bone, forming the floor of the chest. 

 It supports the ribs by the connecting cartilage, and is composed of from seven to nine pieces 

 united together by cartilage. The point of the breast-bone is occasionally injured by blows, 

 and has even been completely broken off. A kind of tumor on it, difficult to heal, has also 

 been produced by some cruelty or violence.&quot; 



Again the same authority says: &quot;The question then is, what service is required from 

 the horse? If he has to carry a heavy weight, and has much work to do, he should be 

 ribbed home the last rib and the hip-bone should not be far from each other. There is 

 more capacity of chest and of belly there is less distance between the points of support 



