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inflamed and rigid, which accounts for their so often 

 going feelingly (as it is called), though not absolutely 

 lame, for the first hundred yards from their stable 

 door. Stepping on sloping, uneven ground immedi- 

 ately detects this injury ; and what I have said on 

 this subject leads me to the following conclusion, 

 which perhaps may be new to some, and rather 

 sceptically received by others. It is my firm opinion, 

 however, that if horses had to travel at a moderate 

 rate — say nine or ten miles an hour — over a road 

 faced with iron, but presenting a perfectly level surface, 

 we should have very few horses lame in the feet. It 

 is a well-known fact that, though they go much faster 

 now than they did before Mr MacAdam taught us how 

 to make our roads, there are not half the post-horses 

 foundered in their feet at the present time that were 

 so when ruts and quarters abounded in all roads, 

 and the animals scarcely knew what it was to step 

 upon a level surface, and have an even bearing for 

 their feet. Exclusively of the fact of my having 

 seen many horses which would trot quite sound on a 

 level, hard road, but would be invariably lame on 

 that which was sloping and uneven, my mind was made 

 up on the subject by ocular demonstration in one of 

 my own hacks, the particulars of which I will give. 

 Some years since I was in the habit of frequently 

 visiting a friend who resided twenty miles from his 

 county town, but who generally rode over to it in 

 the summer months on the market day, being sure 

 to meet some sporting friends ; and when I was at 

 his house I never failed to accompany him. By way. 



