68 THE ITINERANT HORSE PHYSICIAN 



where else. These horses somewhat resemble the 

 English thoroughbred, but they are smaller and 

 have even finer bone. They are game to the core, 

 and no better saddle horses could be desired. 

 They are said to be the offspring of some of the 

 old Spanish breeds which were brought to Mexico 

 centuries ago. 



The average Mexican horse is a small, 

 scrawny, nondescript sort of nag, always in poor 



flesh and usually full of 

 spavines, ringbones and 

 other blemishes. 



The common man's 

 horse in Mexico is not a 

 horse at all but the burro. 

 They sell for from five 

 dollars to thirty or forty 

 dollars, depending on 

 their size and work-abil- 

 ity. The ordinary burro 

 of about the size of the 

 average Shetland pony will carry a pack weigh- 

 ing around 250 pounds all day. They are used 

 mostly for packing; only occasionally are they 

 worked in harness. 



The burro seems to be immune to all diseases ; 

 it is a rare thing to see a lame one, even. They 

 reach a great age and are part and parcel of 

 Mexico; I can not imagine Mexico without the 

 burro. 



Another class of patronage that I enjoyed in 

 El Paso was that of the Chinese. El Paso har- 

 bors a Chinese quarter numbering around 500 



They are said to be the off 



spring of some of the old 



Spanish breeds 



