BACE-HOBSES.] MODEEN VETERINAEY PEACTICE. [eace-hoeses. 



great size, suggested the idea of tlie wild horse 

 of the desert. His resolute and choleric temper 

 was well known ; and although he held a very 

 iUmiliar and dumb converse with us over the 

 bar, we did not deem it prudent to trust 

 Durselves alone witli him in his apartment. 

 Jfe was nevertlieless very kind and friendly 

 with his groom." 



In observing on the general character of the 

 running of this animal, we cannot but remark 

 that it was impossible to make a tool of him, 

 (•ven had it been desired, or had his owner 

 intended to do so. He was no horse that 

 could win a race to-day, and be beaten on the 

 morrow by another horse of inferior powers. 

 Jle seemed to have made up his mind to be 

 always a winner, and resisted all the attempts 

 of his jockeys to force him to accommodate 

 liis pace to that of his opponents. He took 

 tiie lead, and gallantly maintained it, in spite 

 of all opposition. "Were tliere more horses of 

 the temper of Eclipse, there would be less 

 /.'nesse practised on the race-course of the 

 [)resent day. 



In closing the history of this animal, we must 

 quote a few more extended observations of 

 Mr. St. Bell, on some of his proportions. 

 The Essay of that gentleman is replete 

 with sound and practical information, ex- 

 pressed in clear and intelligible language ; and 

 is worthy of the perusal of all those that take 

 an interest in such things as have a tendency 

 to enhance the strength, beauty, speed, and 

 5>plendour of the horse. 



" The difference which results from peculiar 

 conformation," says Mr. St. Bell, "militates, in 

 some respects, against the rules laid down in 

 the geometrical table in use in the veterinary 

 schools on the continent of Europe, and 

 )>roves that no common standard of measure- 

 ment can apply generally to different species. 

 As each species, and even each individual, has 

 its own peculiar beauty, we cannot pretend to 

 establish any general rule of beauty for the 

 horse. Were a man to collect the various 

 beauties of individuals, it might, indeed, serve 

 as a model for the painter, or the statuary, 

 but would be of no use to direct him in the 

 choice of a horse. Eclipse was never esteemed 

 handsome ; but in maJcing, he was nearly per- 

 fect, and speedy in proportion. &- 



" We may propose that the legs of Eclipse, 



in their flexion in the gallop, described each a 

 circle of three hundred and sixty degrees; 

 and, consequently, the extent of the action of 

 each leg was the same in extension. To this 

 may be added the force of action, without 

 which a horse cannot even walk. This mus- 

 cular, and merely mechanical force, can only be 

 computed by experiment ; and well organised 

 as Eclipse was, as to his muscles and the 

 length and direction of his legs, we may ven- 

 ture to assert that, free of all weight, and 

 galloping at full speed, he could cover an 

 extent of twenty-five feet at each complete 

 action of the gallop ; that he could repeat this 

 twice and one-third in each second ; conse- 

 quently that, doing his utmost, he could run 

 nearly four miles in six minutes and two 

 seconds. 



" The excellence of the make of Eclipse 

 may fairly be inferred from his superior speed ; 

 for this speed could result only from a har- 

 monious combination in the organs of pro- 

 gression. Let us now suppose these same 

 organs defective in their proportion, and in- 

 quire what w^ould be the consequence. 



" The Croup and Eump. — An examination 

 of the bones of the ilium, confirmed me in my 

 opinion, held during life, that the croup in 

 Eclipse was disproportionately large. The 

 extent of the os jJtihis and iscJuu7n caused him 

 to go too wide behind. His hind-feet, instead 

 of being parallel with his fore-feet, stood out- 

 ward. This defect, which caused a wavering 

 in the croup, in his gallop, together with 

 other small defects, was overruled by his great 

 muscular powers. A much greater fault in a 

 racer is, when the croup is too narrow, and 

 the muscles, which communicate with the loins 

 and extremities, thin, and, consequently, weak. 



"The SnouLDEE and Arm. — In Eclipse, 

 the shoulder was too much loaded ; but if too 

 spare, the muscles will be weak, and the mo- 

 tions of the shoulder confined. The propor- 

 tion of the arm is commonly determined by 

 that of the shoulder-blade. These two parts, 

 forming together the sides of an angle, 

 more or less open, give to the muscles which 

 move them, a quicker or less power, in propor- 

 tion as this motion is made further from, or 

 nearer to, the axis of the motion. 



"The Hind Leg— the Thigh. — Eclipse 

 was remarkable for length in his hinder parts. 



77 



