THE LUJN^GS. 261 



obvious that a more ample supply of uncontaminated blood 

 will be required to sustain the energies of life, and violent 

 action of the muscles forces the blood more rapidly through 

 the veins, and hence the quick and deep breathing of the 

 animal when running at speed. Therefore, the more capa- 

 cious the chest, the greater will be the supply of pure blood, 

 as the lungs will have more room to expand and perform 

 the functions which we have above described. Besides, a 

 capacious chest will fit him for a longer duration of speed. 



Those who are accustomed to hunting or Jiorse-racing, 

 must have frequently witnessed the wonderful relief which 

 loosening the girths have afforded to a horse after a severe 

 gallop. The tightening being removed, permits the chest to 

 expand and contract to a greater extent, and consequently 

 yields a larger portion of purified blood. A very short rest 

 will sufficiently manifest how much the exhausted energies 

 of those organs will recover when the greater expenditure 

 is not necessary. 



Even for animals which are not required to possess speed, 

 such as cart, waggon, dray, and farmers' horses, a capacious 

 chest is equally necessary ; for this reason, that in these 

 there is generally a great accumulation of both flesh and 

 fat which require a large portion of the blood to supply his 

 growth ; consequently large and ample cliests are requisite 

 so as to afford room for the necessary provision of a rapid 

 purification of the contaminated blood. 



Diseases of the lungs are among the worst to which 

 horses are liable, and most frequent of occurrence, and 

 hence the most likely to impair his usefulness. A horse 

 labouring under diseased lungs is unfit for any service, nor 

 can all the art of the ablest veterinary surgeon produce 

 even a semblance of alleviation, and hence is too frequently 

 unjustly considered as unskilful. In other complaints, such 



