ANATOMY. 49 



will often refivse their food, and even undergo considerable 

 privations, so influential in the system is the periodical sexual 

 passion. 



By implanting such a vigorous and irresistible impulse into 

 the sexual constitution of animals, has nature excited the 

 congress of the sexes, and insured the perpetuation of their 

 species ; and so salutary is the moderate or seasonable per- 

 formance of this act, that animals are found to be improved, 

 both in health and strength, by it ; if carried to excess, it 

 proves highly destructive. 



In the covering season the female parts are in a fit state of 

 aptitude for giving due effect to the semen conveyed into 

 them by the penis of the male j they show this aptitude by 

 redness, and prominency of the vulva, and by the emission, 

 at intervals, of a whitish mucus fluid ; animals that are ill fed 

 and hard worked, seldom show that they are horseing at all. 



Impregnation ordinarily puts an end to the cestral dis- 

 charge, by causing permanent closure of the mouth of the 

 womb. The germs, or rudiments, of the future beings exist 

 in the ovaria of the female prior to impregnation, and only 

 require the stimulus of the masculine liquor to dislodge them 

 and develop themselves. 



STOMACH. 



By reference to the plate, it will be seen that the horse r s 

 stomach somewhat resembles a bagpipe. It is situated 

 behind the diaphragm, principally on the left side, with its 

 expellant orifice extending across the spine to the right. It 

 has two surfaces, which may be called its sides, though 

 one is posterior, and the other anterior ; and two ex- 

 tremities, a large and small. The superior, or upper portion 

 of the latter receives the oesophagus or gullet, and is termed 

 its cardiac orifice ; while the lower portion, which ends in 

 the duodenum, (see plate,) is termed its pyloric orifice. 

 The situation of the stomach varies, in some degree, with its 

 distention ; when it is much distended, the left extremity 

 will press upon the diaphragm, and cause heaving at the 



