84 THE ORANGE COtJNTY 



rior corporeal powers: a dull, heavy, sullen aspect is a pretty 

 r< ure index of the reverse. The spinal marrow which passes 

 through the whole length of the vertabrse is the vital cause of 

 muscular motion, and from it the nerves issue. This spinal 

 marrow is a continuation of the posterior portion of the brain, 

 and as all this wonderful and beautiful machinery is entirely 

 hidden from inspection, the fallacy of judging from external 

 appearances is readily explained. Racing is the medium 

 through which these characteristics are discovered; and 

 breeders will find it to their advantage to investigate mi- 

 nutely on which side the balance preponderates, whether it 

 be in favor of the will or the power. By this some of the 

 uncertainty connected with the speculation of breeding 

 horses will be overcome. If the sire be of very energetic 

 temper, he is a good cross for a mare possessing power, 

 with a dull, phlegmatic disposition. Those who have 

 devoted their attention to the many interesting subjects con- 

 nected with the racing career and lineage of the equine race, 

 are aware that the most valuable qualities that the horse can 

 display will sometimes lie dormant through a generation or 

 more, and then burst forth with renewed distinction. There 

 can be no doubt that this is occasioned by a deficiency of the 

 exciting force or energy of the brain and nervous system 

 which influences the muscles of locomotion for that is the 

 power which moves the machinery. This inestimable faculty 

 may be affected and sadly deranged by accidental causes or 

 injudicious treatment. If an animal be frequently and 

 seriously alarmed or punished, it will have a marked and 

 visible effect upon the nervous system. This will influence 

 the muscular powers, and render them incapable of merely 

 slight exertion. This is exemplified by the animal breaking 

 out into profuse perspiration. Rational modes of treating 

 young horses are by far more generally known and practiced 

 than they were only twenty years ago. The ordeal which 

 many of them had to undergo in bygone days in the hands of 

 inconsiderate persons, for the purpose of preparing them to 

 run for early engagements, was well calculated to raise an 

 outcry against the practice of training them at two years old. 

 Even the probationary exercise of lunging was carried often 

 to an excess prejudicial and dangerous to the nervous sytem, 

 the muscular powers, and the delicate texture of joints and 

 tendons. A moment's reflection will determine, that if a 

 young animal, or indeed one of mature age, be wantonly ex- 

 cited to perform so much labor as to occasion exhaustion of 

 the muscular powers, the sympathy existing between the 



