148 THE HORSE. 



Lnpton, in the commencement of the year 1858, 

 through the columns of the Veterinarian ; and they 

 were adopted and very ably advocated by Mr. Joseph 

 Gamgee, in the Edinburgh Veterinary Review for 

 January, 1859. 



As I never had the advantages of a good, nor yet 

 the very great disadvantages of an erroneous veteri- 

 nary education, I was obliged, to a large extent, to 

 pick up information regarding the horse from the use 

 of my own eyes. Hence I do not recollect of having 

 ever held any other opinion than the one I published 

 in 1848, that the horse lays his heel first to thegi'ound, 

 and moves like the man, from heel to toe. Indeed it 

 seems remarkable that veterinarians should have left the 

 discovery of this view to me. Their having held the 

 opposite opinion is quite unaccountable. To suppose 

 that the horse should both light on the toe and lift 

 from the toe — that the toe should be the first and last 

 point of contact with the gi'ound — appears an approach 

 to absurdity. The toe would require to be made of 

 something more durable than steel, to stand the tear 

 and wear which would result from such an an-ange- 

 ment. Besides, this construction would involve a 

 tedious and clumsy action, which is altogether incon- 

 sistent with the beautiful simplicity of natural organi- 

 sation. Just imagine the time spent in laying down 

 from toe to heel, and then lifting from heel to toe ! 



