THE SO-CALLED "INCAPACITATING VICES." 267 



most pleasantly fresh; when, suddenly, the gig is brought sharply up, 

 and "the wicked beast" is discovered squatting upon its haunches like a 

 dog. 



KIDNEY BKOPPEB." 



This is an unnatural position with the horse. It is perfectly true, 

 animals are made to assume it in the circle of most amphitheaters ; but 

 if the reader remembers, he also beheld men, in the same place, put 

 their arms and legs in positions which were quite as unnatural to hu- 

 manity in general as sitting on their haunches possibly could be to the 

 community of the equine race. What, therefore, may have been ex- 

 hibited at a circus signifies nothing, when regarded in its fitness for 

 universal application ; in all other spheres, sitting on the haunches, when 

 exemplified by the horse, must be accepted as proof of bodily derange- 

 ment. 



If the attitude of the animal be observed, the hind limbs will be seen to 

 have fallen in such positions as suggest no notion of comfort or of design. 

 They may cross one another, or they may be sprawled out on either side 

 of the body ; they are never arranged with that grace and care which 

 indicate the attitude to have been deliberately assumed. Moreover, 

 should the skin be pricked with the point of a pin, no sign of sensibility 

 is usually elicited from the hind quarters. Strike the prostrated mem- 

 bers, and no evidence of pain follows the blow. The posterior portions 

 of the body, obviously, are dead to this world and to its malice. 



However, do not fuss about the horse ; allow the sufferer to remain 

 undisturbed where it has fallen. Have patience with the distress which 



