26 HAY SEED, OR HOW TO 



external fat, and while the load is lightened for the horse 

 to carry, and ihe muscular system is brought to a higher 

 state of vigor, it also assists in the expansion of the chest. 

 The intercostal muscles, or the muscles between the ribs, 

 have a good deal to do with respiration, and the reduction 

 of the neck removes the unnecessary load of fat which 

 surrounds the wind-pipe, giving more room for it to con- 

 vey the air to the bronchial tubes, and through them to 

 the lungs. I have just said that the same process gets 

 rid of fat whenever it is deposited either among the inter- 

 nal vicera or where it surrounds the muscles. This is so, 

 yet we can so modify it in practice that the effect will be 

 greater in absorbing the interior than the exterior deposit. 

 Thus you will frequently see an animal in racing condi- 

 tion w^ith a fair covering of hard flesh over the general 

 exterior of the body. I'ill we remove from the lungs and 

 heart the adipose deposit that hinders their working, we 

 cannot give exercise to be of much benefit to the muscles 

 of locomotion. The first sweats, then, will have to be 

 given independent of speed, which these organs are yet 

 unable to endure. The questions attending sweating for 

 the outward formation are not so complicated. The 

 muscles are masses of elastic fibers, terminated by the 

 tendons on which they act by contraction and relaxation. 

 Thus, while one set exert their force in one direction 

 by contraction, the opposite are lengthened so not to 

 interfere with the power applied. Some run parallel with 

 the tendons, others cross these in an oblique direction, 

 and still others at nearly righi angles from the first. The 

 fat is deposited where they overlap each other, filling up 

 the interstices and giving prominence to the muscles by 

 pushing the outside one out. In a very fat horse there is 

 a further deposit of adipose matter between the skin and 

 body, sometimes covering the muscles of the ribs to quite 

 a depth. This is entirely useless, while that in the inter- 

 stices has a duty to perform of great importance, viz.: 

 lubricating the fibers so that the friction at the points of 

 attrition is much lessened. The muscles become harder 

 and more tendonous as they are made to perform active 

 duty. This change takes place as the result of exercise. 



