ATTITUDES. 449 



the hind-members are overburdened by that portion of the weight of 

 which the former are relieved. Hence we frequently see the fetlocks 

 and the hocks of such horses prematurely blemished and unable to 

 communicate sufficient impulsion to the body. 



Finally, the anterior feet touching the ground principally by the 

 heels, and not almost uniformly the whole extent of the plantar border 

 of the wall, it follows that these feet, already surcharged behind from 

 their defective situation, will also be more exposed to wounds and 

 bruises of the heels. 



The last and most important consequence of camping is the marked 

 slowness which it gives to the gaits. It lengthens, in fact, the base of 

 support, diminishes by so much the length of the lever-arm which is 

 constituted by the neck in front of the centre of anterior suspension, 

 renders the equilibrium more stable, and all this to the detriment of 

 the speed. On the other hand, as the angular displacement of the 

 member, dependent upon the length of its muscles, implies especially 

 a limited position beyond which it would be very unfavorably directed 

 in order to take its foothold on the ground, it follows from this that a 

 member whose free extremity is already carried forward will be much 

 closer to the point of extreme extension, less apt to utilize the long 

 muscles, and more disposed to take small steps. 



The most serious cause of slowness of the gait consists in the pain 

 experienced in placing the foot upon the ground. Whether the lesions 

 indicated above are primary or secondary, it is non^e the less true, as 

 M. Sanson l said, that the violence of the concussion and the intensity 

 of the pain are in direct ratio with the altered position of the member 

 and the force of the impulsion. But, however feeble the morbid sen- 

 sibility which is manifested in such a case be considered, the animal 

 always endeavors to protect these parts in proportion to the suffering 

 which he experiences ; whence a hesitation in stepping and a shortening 

 of the gait. 



To recapitulate, fatigue of the anterior members, overloading of the 

 posterior, premature ruin of their apparatus of impulsion and dis- 

 persion (hocks and fetlocks), bruising of the heels, painful and uncer- 

 tain contact of the foot with the ground, slowness of the gait, here 

 are the principal inconveniences of horses camped in front. If the 

 vice be acquired, it can be remedied by rational care and treatment of 

 the anterior feet, but even this result is doubtful in many cases. How- 

 ever this may be, the subjects can only be utilized at a walk and upon 



> A. Sanson, loc. cit., p. 675. 

 29 



