LOCAL SWEATING. 267 



free passage of air in the breathing-tubes, and the free 

 passage of blood through the jugular veins and carotid 

 arteries, but the extra weight to be carried is in the very 

 worst place for the ease of the horse. It would be a safe 

 estimate that the last described neck would weigh fifty 

 pounds more than the second, and more than double as 

 much as the first. If these horses were identical in every 

 other particular, there would be a vast preponderance in 

 favor of the two with lighter necks on that score alone. 

 But when we come to consider the effects on the breath- 

 ing apparatus, and the stricture on the return of the blood 

 from the brain, we will be convinced that the large-necked 

 animal is totally unfit to go any distance fast, without ar- 

 tificial aid to dimmish the useless volume of matter in the 

 neck. Now, if we were forced to waste all parts of him 

 alike, it would be evident that we would weaken some 

 portions so much that the balance would be equally as 

 much disturbed, and the part that would fail the most 

 would be the loin. A deep chest, swelling barrel, and 

 broad loin are generally looked upon as betokening 

 strength of constitution. 



A severe strain of the loin is followed by partial paraly- 

 sis of the hind quarters ; the legs are drawn feebly along, 

 and the animal moves by dragging himself with his fore 

 feet. The whole propelling power of a horse being in his 

 hind quarters, it is evident that anything that will weaken 

 that force will materially retard the velocity with which 

 he is capable of moving. The back-bone is braced with 

 strong fillets parallel with it and joined to the bony pro- 

 jections, and the large muscles that cover the bony frame- 

 work are heaped up in masses at this point. If we dimi 

 nish their force by repeated sweatings, we lose much with- 

 out any corresponding gain ; so, to reduce" the overloaded 

 neck we have recourse to the local application of clothing, 

 and thus effect the object desired. There is nothing like 



