18 THE HORSE 



I had not myself witnessed the performance on two several occasions 1 

 should scarcely have credited it. The brain of this animal does not 

 require much rest by sleep, and four or five hours in quiet are sufficient to 

 keep him in health if he is not very hard worked. He readily sleeps 

 standing, and some individuals never lie down ; but this habit of sleeping 

 standing should not be encouraged, as it greatly distresses the legs, and 

 tends to produce fever of the feet, or some other mischief in the lower 

 sxtremities. 



SMALL STOMACH 



ONE OF THE GREATEST PECULIARITIES in the structure of the horse is the 

 small size of his stomach, which is also of a very simple nature. He is 

 likewise without a gall-bladder, showing that the digestion must be 

 continuous and not interrupted by distinct intervals, as in the ruminants 

 and carnivora. Nature has thus framed this animal, in order that he may 

 be at all times able to exert his utmost speed, which he could not do with 

 the mass of provender in his stomach which is carried by the cow or sheep. 

 The same provision is shown in the udder of the mare, which is not larger 

 than that of the goat or sheep. 



All these several characteristics of the horse will be more minutely 

 considered under the different heads to which they each belong ; but they 

 are here grouped together to give a better general idea of the animal which 

 is under examination. 



