LATERAL FACES OF THE BODY. 155 



form of rib, AOG, might be found, for example, circumscribing a narrower chest 

 for which there would be a proper compensation. 



Such are the results which can be deduced 

 from an examination of the figure. 



But unfortunately for the position of those 

 who defend this opinion, there is here much 

 difference between theory and practice ; and 

 since, after all, we must view the horse as he 

 is, and not as we desire him to be, we must 

 say that the ratio existing between the height 

 of the chest and its width does not vary to a 

 great extent. In thirty-six horses of differ- 

 ent races, measured in this respect, we have 

 seen this ratio range between 1.125 and 

 1.468 ; it should have a mean of 1.273. 



It follows from this that the compensa- 



FlG. 44. 



tions offered by the chest in its height are 



not as valuable as we were at first sight tempted to believe, because of 

 the harmonious relations which exist between the two diameters of the 

 thorax. A flat rib is in most instances short ; a round one is more 

 often long ; the thoracic cavity but little developed in one sense has 

 many chances of being small in another ; this is especially the reason 

 why a fiat side should be rejected. 



It would always be in defiance of the most elementary observation 

 to say that the existence of pectoral compensations is to be absolutely 

 denied. Such compensations are possible theoretically, and in practice 

 they do exist ; but they are rare and very limited. If a large number 

 of horses be measured, some are found having the same conformation 

 and the same width of the chest, with a difference of only two or three 

 centimetres in the height of the latter. Less commonly, horses are seen 

 which present a diminution of, perhaps, one or two centimetres in the 

 width of the chest, but which redeem themselves by an excess of three 

 or four centimetres, at most, in the height. But these last are excep- 

 tions so difficult to meet that we have reason to doubt whether the 

 internal mensurations of the thorax would, in fact, give the proof of 

 a real compensation. 



It is always true that the ribs, even if deficient in convexity, are still 

 capable of circumscribing a spacious thoracic cavity, upon the sole condi- 

 tion that they are long and their flatness is not very marked. The essen- 

 tial point is to know when the defect will be compensated and when it 

 will not be. This is a point which demands great practical skill, and 



