88 LESSONS IN HORSE JUDGING. 



tions we can have to stop off work, or moderate 

 it; because, as we have reason to know, this gas 

 must be present in sufficient quantity to main- 

 tain the digestive apparatus, so that it is merely- 

 pressed out of its legitimate area by the over- 

 worked abdominal muscles, and presses upon the 

 heart and Imigs, which causes these organs to 

 work under undue pressure from the rear, and 

 which will almost invariably end in inflamma- 

 tion (pleurisy) of their serous covering, called the 

 pleura, if not stopped; because the pleura invests 

 the lungs, and turns again upon itself and lines 

 the ribs, and during breathing the two pleuras 

 have to rub over each other, and if the lungs are 

 unduly pressed upon from behind this friction 

 increases and leads to inflammation. 



Y2. — The trunk at the top has the back bone 

 running its whole length, and we saw that each 

 bone of the back had a bone sticking up called its 

 spine. We further saw that it was the great 

 length of these spines in the fore part of the 

 back which mainly constituted the withers. The 

 spines of the back are not all the same length, 

 but require to be long, in order that the horse 

 may have a strong back. The ribs must be long, 

 so as to give depth to the chest, and they must 

 be well rounded, otherwise the horse will be 

 what is termed flatsided. Tliis condition limits 

 the extension of the lungs from side to side, so 

 they have to extend backwards and encroach 

 upon the alimentary organs, more especially the 

 stomach, and this renders the animal less strong 

 than he otherwise would be. 



