THE ABDOMEN, 97 



THE ABDOMEN. 



The abdominal cavity contains the stomach, intestines, 

 liver, spleen, kidneys, &c. As its contents are vari- 

 able in size and numerous, it is evident its parieties 

 ought to be both elastic and extensive. It is therefore 

 only in part suiTounded by bone. The back ribs 

 should be long and well arched, in order to afford a 

 wide and deep space for holding the stomach, liver, 

 bowels, &c. The condition of this part is a good and 

 well-known indication of the feeding propensities of the 

 animal. A puny appetite is the usual concomitant of 

 short back ribs ; but when they are long and wide-set, 

 the horse is generally a greedy feeder. In the latter 

 case, there will be sufficient room for large digestive 

 organs, without encroaching on the cavity of the chest. 

 There will be a good bread-basket. 



I may just remark here, that horses frequently have 

 their wind broken by being put to fast work when their 

 stomachs are full of either food or di'ink. If a horse is 

 about to get a brash of a trot or a gaUop, he should be 

 allowed time to empty his stomach before being taken 

 out, and he should not, on any account, be permitted to 

 drink. There can be nothing more dangerous than the 

 common practice, about country stables, of galloping the 

 horse home from the river at which he has been al- 

 lowed to satiate his thrist. This practice should be 



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