35 



tranfport itfelf from place to place j therefore muf- 

 cles are the immediate organs of motion. The ex- 

 tent of the aftion of parts is the produce of their 

 length, diredion, and the different angles they are 

 capable of forming : the force arifes from the direc- 

 tion aided by the mufcles; and though there are 

 many circumllances, as vigour, irritability, or fpi- 

 rit, that operate to the advantage or difadvantage of 

 the locomotive power, yet an animal fkeleton is fo 

 admirably arranged, and formed on fuch jull geome- 

 trical principles, that, on viewing the bony aflem- 

 blage alone, we may in no fmall degree form a jull 

 opinion of the powers of motion pofleffed by any 

 animal. It is this that has given rife to the geome- 

 trical admeafurement of the fkeletons of horfes, and 

 the treatifes on the mechanical arrangement of the 

 bones. The curious will find this fubjedl more fully 

 treated on in the '* Veterinary Outhnes,'* page 342 

 to 34-7. The pillars, or legs, of the machine in 

 quadrupeds move forward in progreflion, and gain a 

 new centre of gravity, the different degrees of cele- 

 rity of which are called paces. The natural paces 

 of the horfe are, the walk, trot, and gallop ; all 

 others are artificial, either the effed of education, 

 or debility. A dog has thefe three paces likewife; 

 but the larger kinds, many of them, amble :— this is 

 particularly obfervable in ftiepherds' dogs. 



All the parts of an animal body are formed from 

 what it receives from without, called the food. Dif- 



