THE FORE-LEG. 49 



edlj the arm. I have even heard some men say, that 

 the defects of ttie^arai conld be compensated for by the 

 state of the shoulders, and the thickness of the leg. 

 In proof of the correctness of their opmion, they have 

 cited the performance of Lord George Bentinck's Dis- 

 cord, whose shoulders and legs were remarkably strong, 

 whilst his arms were wretchedly weak. Now, I readily 

 admit that Discord was a strong-constitutioned, game, 

 weight-carrying horse ; stiU, I am quite certain that if, 

 in addition to these valuable qualities, he had been 

 supplied with plenty of muscle in his arms, and had 

 possessed a favourable leverage in his hind and fore- 

 legs, he would have been a first, in place of a third- 

 class racer. He had so many good things about him, 

 that after ha\dng looked him carefully over, I can see 

 no way of accoimting for the many defeats he sus- 

 tained, except by referring them to the poverty and 

 shortness of his arms, the great distance at which his 

 hocks and knees stood from the gTound, and the 

 straightness and shortness of his thighs. 



Those, however, who consider that the defects of the 

 arm can be compensated for by the state of the shoulder 

 and leg, must have a very imperfect idea of the na- 

 ture and uses of the parts concerned. This is clearly 

 demonstrated by the simple anatomical fact, that all the 

 muscles which move the leg and foot are located on the 

 arm. Now, as the muscles are the only moving power 

 in the animal, and as all the muscles which are engaged 



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