LATERAL FACES OF THE BODY. 165 



is always much greater immediately after than during the exercise. 

 This results from the fact that the thorax furnishes numerous points of 

 attachment to the muscles of locomotion, and thus loses its rigidity 

 during work, precisely in the measure necessary to assure pulmonary 

 oxygenation and avoid asphyxia. After a race, on the contrary, the 

 muscles which extend from the thorax to the members no longer act, 

 and the ribs need preserve no longer the same fixity ; the respiratory 

 movements are now as much accelerated as they were before separated. 



All horses do not have exaggerations of the respirations in the 

 same proportion after exercise ; some become breathless much more 

 quickly than others. We shall explain this fact when we discuss the 

 depth of the chest. However it may be, the horse which remains 

 " winded" a long time after exertion lacks endurance, is said to be 

 panting, or short-breathed, and usually has a narrow chest and a 

 tucked-up flank. 



Examination of the Flank. — We often limit ourselves to a 

 superficial examination of this region, but this practice is wrong, for it 

 is one of the most important regions of the surface of the horse's body. 

 To avoid any doubt as to the regularity of its movements, two ex- 

 aminations should be made : the first in the morning and when the horse 

 is at rest, and the next after a certain amount of exercise. It will be 

 well in both cases to give the animal several handfuls of oats. 



These are the reasons for this procedure : at rest and in the morn- 

 ing the respiratory movements are less frequent ; the horse is not 

 excited, and at this time he presents the most regular and most normal 

 manifestation of his functions. After light exercise, the respiratory 

 movements are increased, and those of the flank are more numerous 

 and more intense, and sometimes reveal respiratory diseases which 

 would have remained unperceived had not the organs themselves, so to 

 speak, been obliged to show, by a greater activity, their physiological 

 imperfections or their pathological alterations. Finally, the few liand- 

 fuls of oats which the animal eats have the effect of turning his attention 

 away from the persons or things which surround him. 



In summer it will also be well to free him from all insects which 

 may torment him. 



The observer should place himself in such a position as to view the 

 'flank obliquely, in order to distinguish better its profile. He may be 

 stationed either in front, one metre from the shoulder, or behind, and 

 at the same distance from the croup ; the eye will then follow with 

 care and ease the oscillations of the lower part of the flank at the level 

 of its attachment to the cartilages of the false ribs. The examination 



