110 THE HORSE. 



Disease thus produced must necessarily settle in the 

 weakest part; and whether such part be the battered 

 feet, kept warm or dry, or any other part, such as the 

 lungs, the liver, the eyes, etc., thither flies the malady. 



WORK. 



The straining produced by long-continued work causes 

 horses to step in a low and ungraceful manner; but if 

 they are not thereby prevented from doing their proper 

 work conveniently, they are, nevertheless, SOUND. 



But should they be disabled by past fatigue from work- 

 ing properly, they are UNSOUND. 



In this case, if there is no chronic disease in them, 

 good rest or a " run at grass " will effect a cure, and they 

 are then, again, SOUND. 



When horses, from long-continued fast work, go near 

 the ground, so long as they can conveniently fulfill their 

 proper tasks, they are SOUND. 



But if unable, therefrom, to work properly, they are 



UNSOUND. 



Where, however, no chronic disease exists, good rest, 

 or turning out for awhile, may restore them and make 

 them again SOUND. 



It is well known that stage-coach horses capable of 

 going at the rate of ten miles, and compelled to work at 

 the rate of eight miles an hour, will, in a couple of 

 years, be unable to do more than six; and yet a common 

 observer would not detect in such horses any signs of 

 their being "beat " or distressed; in fact, they may still 

 be in good condition. This decrease in their powers, 

 when caused by contraction of the fibre of the muscles 

 (if there is no other injury or malady existing), can by 

 proper rest be overcome, and such horses be restored to 

 their original turn of speed. 



