2T0 THE SO-CALLED "INCAPACITATING VICES." 



some aspiring equestrian. After such a manner — selling in the dearest 

 market and buying in the cheapest, a maxim of very questionable moral- 

 ity — a large profit has been realized by a carcass which was actually 

 worthless. 



The author, never having dissected the spine of a "kidney dropper," *" 

 cannot positively say in what condition of parts the disease resides. A 

 knowledge of anatomy, however, aided by a comprehension of the symp- 

 toms, demonstrates the vertebral chain is the seat of injury ; while the 

 want of motion which affects the hinder limbs indicates the spinal mar- 

 row to be suddenly pressed upon. Subsequent recovery likewise proves 

 the injury to the nervous center is of no more serious a character ; while 

 the perfect restoration of the animal's power shows that the pressure is 

 either caused by displacement, or by such a partial fracture as rest will 

 enable nature to surmount. This explanation, deduced from observation, 

 and based upon inferences drawn from the study of effects, will to most 

 persons appear so probable as to be perfectly satisfactory. Still, there 

 do exist minds whose faith in an antiquated name it is hardly possible 

 for any argument to destroy ; the generality of readers, therefore, must 

 grant the author patience, while he, most probably in vain, attempts to 

 disabuse such persons of their strange belief. 



The term " kidney dropping " is an ignorant combination of words to 

 which no absolute meaning can be attached. The kidneys are no more 

 than the renal glands. The horse which falls exhibits no sign of urinary 

 disease. These organs are usually healthy ; of that fact the writer has 

 positive information. The kidneys, moreover, are not specially endowed 

 with motor nerves ; no physiologist has hitherto asserted that these 

 glands are in any way concerned in the movements of the body. The 

 renal organs have, by the French, been unwarrantably removed, without 

 the general sensation or the body's motion being affected. When the 

 horse drops, not only is motion gone from the hind limbs, but sensibility 

 is lost. The quarters have dropped, not in accordance with the will of 

 the creature, but because the posterior division of the body was released 

 from the control of the sensorium, or was suddenly cut off from the 

 influence of volition. 



The spinal marrow regulates the motions of the limbs, being subject 

 only to the dictation of the brain. Volition and motion are in these 

 organs associated, but not absolutely united. They both are capable of 

 separate existence, though the mechanical derangement which destroys 

 the one usually puts an end to the other. Nevertheless, they can exist 

 apart. Convulsion exhibits motion, as independent of the will ; while 

 painful paralysis displays sensibility increased, although power of move- 

 ment has been lost In "kidney dropping," coneciousness is retained; 



