18 ANATOMICAL CONSIDERATIONS." 



the mode in which the members were joined to the body, with the reach 

 of hmb peculiar to the skeleton, would equally announce that grace and 

 that ease which had characterized the lost animal's movements. 



What lamentation would be poured forth over the absence of such a 

 treasure 1 How would poignant regrets be awakened, as science demon- 

 strated what once were the endowments of an extinct inhabitant of earth ! 

 Yet, at the present time, humanity possesses this priceless creature to 

 lighten toil and heighten pleasure. Bjit, how few of mankind have ever 

 reflected upon the marvelous delicacy of the slave's construction ! It is 

 lashed unto exhaustion and worked into deformity. Because of the treat- 

 ment it experiences at the hands of the master, whom it serves, it gener- 

 ally ceases to exist before its body is matured ; but short as its life may 

 be, existence is to it only one continued misery 1 



Even mortal instruments, things of the world's manufacture, are lim- 

 ited in their applications, and capable of being deranged. A spring 

 carriage is, obviously, not a suitable conveyance for a load of paving 

 stones. He would be esteemed mad, who should appropriate such a 

 vehicle to so gross a purpose. The horse's body is more delicately 

 arranged and more nicely balanced than the perfection of human skill 

 can hope to imitate ; nevertheless, people expose themselves to no rebuke 

 when they wrench, cripple, or destroy the beauty which is intrusted to 

 their authority. 



Yet, the thing constructed by human hands, if injured, can be repaired, 

 and may be thus rendered again equal to its uses. A living animal, how- 

 ever, being damaged, is not, on this earth, to be restored tc its integrity. 

 That has been, and is lost 1 Mortal science may relieve the wound, but 

 the scar remains, to conjure up thoughts of that deeper seated derange- 

 ment, which is beyond the reach of this world's medicine. The body 

 may partially recover and the life may be prolonged; but deformity, 

 accompanied by a proportionate loss of function, vsdll testify to the folly 

 that deteriorated the perfection which was given as a helpmate. 



Those forms of agony, which a few years ago were more common in 

 England than such are even at the present time, evidently declared that 

 the horse was altogether unequal to increasing wants and growing de- 

 sires of mankind. Neither the fleetness of the courser nor the strength 

 of the heavier breed embodied the requirements of the age. Something 

 faster and more powerfiil had become a public necessity ; therefore rail- 

 roads were permitted. 



Such persons as can talk of railroads being destined to destroy the 

 breed of horses, must suffer under a confusion of ideas. The breed of 

 horses may be endangered, as this is being vn*itten ; but the source of 

 peril lies very far removed from the lines of tramway. The objects, 



