74 STRUCTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE UORSE. 



source ; and the common term chill is by no means an unfit one 

 for many of the diseases of cattle, especially when considered in 

 connection with the digestive organs, for on these the mischief 

 generally falls. Sometimes, however, the organs of respiration 

 or breathing suffer, or, in other words, the lungs ; and so it is in 

 horses, as will be shown in a future chapter. 



From the above circumstances it will be seen how necessary a 

 healthy state of the skin is to the digestive process ; and we 

 cannot expect a smooth glossy coat on a horse unless he is kept 

 on wholesome food and water. This sympathy, or consent, be- 

 tween the stomach and skin, must depend upon their communi- 

 cating with each other through the medium or intervention of 

 the nerves. It is obvious that the sensorium or brain must be a 

 means of communication between all the nerves or organs of the 

 body ; this is shown by making a wound in the skin, or by 

 whipping the animal. This painful impression on the skin, 

 which is the organ of feeling, is communicated with inconceiv- 

 able rapidity to the sensorium or mind of the animal ; and a 

 considerable degree of muscular motion takes place in conse- 

 quence. But, besides this conunon medium of nervous commu- 

 nication between the skin and the digestive organs, there is 

 another, through which slight impressions are communicated 

 from one to the other ; that is, through the great sympathetic 

 nerve. There is a circumstance to be kept in view with regard 

 to the connection between the digestive organs and the skin 

 which is of a strictly practical nature, and will be found of great 

 use. If the horse's skin has been brought to a higher degree of 

 sensibility than is consistent with the purposes he is wanted for 

 by hot stables, warm clothing, and regular grooming, it may 

 well be expected that exposure to cold and wet, especially if he 

 has been heated and fatigued by exercise, will make such a pain- 

 fid or chilling impression upon the skin as will be communicated 

 to the stomach ; in consequence of which there will be a depres- 

 sion of appetite, if there is no food in the stomach ; and if that 

 organ has food in it, there will be an interruption to, or a sus- 

 pension of, the digestive process. The bowels may be aifected 

 by the same cause ; and when the chilling impression is strong, 

 even the heart may be depressed. When this happens, the 

 blood accumulates in the lungs, the heart, and the brain, and 

 internal inflammation or fever may be the consequence. Another 

 evil arising from chills is a suppression of the perspirable dis- 

 charge, either wholly or in part. The excrementitious parts of 

 the blood which would have passed off through this outlet are 

 then thrown back upon the circulation, and cause some degree 

 of disturbance in the body, or fever, until thrown off by the other 

 cmunctorics In horses and cattle the kidneys are considerable 

 cmunctories, and are easily excited to action ; these readily carry 



