300 HOUSE AND MAN. 



the slope is in the wrong direction, and its effects 

 upon the horse are simply disastrous. 



As long as the horse stands or lies upon a floor 

 that slopes backwards, he can enjoy no real rest. 

 Suppose that we revert to our original parallel 

 between a horse and a locomotive engine, and sup- 

 pose the engine to be placed on a rising incline. The 

 result would be that the engine would immediately 

 begin to roll backwards ; and if it were to retain 

 its position, it must keep the wheels at work so as 

 to counteract the incline. I do not think that we 

 should much admire the wisdom of the owner of the 

 engine if he were to station it all night upon an 

 incline, so as to keep it at work, and wear out its 

 machinery merely in order to retain its position. 



Yet, in most stables the horse is subjected to 

 precisely similar treatment. By the force of gravity 

 it is kept perpetually slipping backwards, and can 

 only counteract this slipping process by the continual 

 action of the muscles. 



Let any one try it for himself. Let him stand 

 for a quarter of an hour upon the side of a hill and 

 facing the slope. He will very soon find out that, 

 however still he may stand, he cannot retain his 

 position without exerting the muscles of the legs to a 

 degree which every minute renders more irksome. 

 Now let him turn in the opposite direction, and he 



