BENEFIT TO THE MUSCLES. 2G5 



act by contraction and relaxation. Thus while one set 

 exert their force in one direction by contraction, the oppo- 

 site are lenghtened so as not to interfere with the power 

 applied. Some run parallel with the tendons, others cross 

 these in an oblique direction, and still others at nearly 

 right angles to the first. The fat is deposited where they 

 overlap each other, filling up the interstices and giving 

 prominence to the muscles by pushing the outside one 

 out. In a very fat horse, there is a further deposit of adi- 

 pose matter between the sldn and the body, sometimes 

 covering the muscles of the ribs to quite a depth. This is 

 entirely useless, while that in the interstices has a duty to 

 perform of great importance, viz., lubricating the fibres so 

 that the friction at the points of attrition is much lessened. 

 The muscles are completely filled with a network of blood- 

 vessels, their ramifications being so extensive that the eye 

 is unable to detect their presence. The muscles become 

 harder and more tendinous as they are made to perform 

 active duty, till what was a pulpy, fleshy mass, becomes 

 fined down to a strong, elastic substance, very different 

 and much more suitable to the necessities of rapid pro- 

 gression. This change takes place as the result of exer- 

 cise, and does not follow the removal of the fat, when that 

 removal is dependent on other agencies than muscular 

 exertion. While the Eoman or hot-air bath would be a 

 very proper and powerful auxiliary in removing interior 

 and exterior fatty matter in the first stages of preparation, 

 its services could never further this change of the muscu- 

 lar system. Exercise is the only means of effecting it, 

 and the amount of work best adapted to effect this end is 

 varied in almost every animal that has to undergo the 

 conditioning process. The first sweats, however, are 

 nearly identical in all horses having the same amount of 

 extraneous matter to remove, so that we will be less likely 

 to err in this stage than when we make a racing pace one 



