EXTERNAL STRUCTURE. 63 



the form of muscles and tendons ; and these levers ai'e differently con- 

 nected, and act in different directions ; and he will be the best judge of 

 horses who, while he has loved, and lived among them, is somewhat ac- 

 quainted with the circumstances in which mechanical power is gained 

 or lost. 



In speaking then of the structure of this animal, and the jwints which 

 guide the opinion of real judges of him, we shall, as briefly and as simply 

 as we are able, explain those fimdamental principles on which his usefulness 

 and beauty must depend. We require one kind of horse for slow and 

 heavy draught, and another for lighter and quicker work : — one as a plea- 

 sant and safe roadster ; another with more speed and equal continuance as 

 a hunter ; and another still is wanted for the race-course. What is the 

 peculiarity of structure — what are the particular points that will fit each 

 for his proper business, and, to a certain degree, unfit him for everything 

 else? The farmer will require a horse of «// work, that can carry him 

 to market and take him round his farm, on which he can occasionally 

 ride for pleasure, and which he must sometimes degrade to the dung-cart 

 or the harrow. What combination of powers will enable the animal to dis- 

 charge most of these duties well, and all of them to a certain extent profi- 

 tably? 



Much time spent among horses, an acquired love of them, and a 

 little, sometimes possibly, too dearly-bought experience, may give the 

 agriculturist some insight into these matters. We will try whether we 

 cannot assist liim in this affair ; whether we cannot explain to him the 

 reason why certain points must be good, and why a horse without them 

 must, of necessity, be good for nothing. Perhaps some useful rules may 

 thus be more deeply impressed upon his memory, or some common, but 

 dangerous prejudices may be discarded, and a considerable degree of 

 error, disappointment, and expense avoided. 



It is first of all necessary to give a sketch of the Anatomy of the Horse, 

 in which we shall endeavour to elucidate those numerous and beautiful 

 instances of wise and benevolent design, exhibited in the structure of this 

 valuable animal, and which will render our study of him more interesting; 

 while many a hint of practical utility will be gained. 



If we treat of this at considerable length, let it be remembered, that the 

 horse is our noblest servant, and that, in describing the structure and eco- 

 nomy of his frame, we are, in a great measure, describing that of other 

 domestic quadrupeds, and shall hereafter have to speak only of points of 

 difference required by the different services and uses for which they were 

 destined. And further, let it be remembered that it is only by being well 

 acquainted with the structure and anatomy of the horse that we can appre- 

 ciate his shape and uses, or understand the different diseases to which he 

 is liable. We trust the reader who may fancy us rather prolix on this 

 head will, before the work is finished, feel the full value of what we 

 purpose to explain. It is from want of knowledge of the anatomy of 

 the horse, that much of the mass of ignorance and prejudice which exists, 

 as to the diseases, &c. to which the horse is subject, is to be referred ; and 

 we deem it one of the most important objects of this treatise to reform this 

 ignorance, and remove these prejudices. 



It will be proper here, once for all, to caution the reader, who has hitherto 

 been unaccustomed to reading books of science, against being deterred by 

 the sight of a few of what are termed hard names. The fact is, that science 

 must have, to a certain extent, a new language to express minutely and ac- 

 curately the particular parts or things to be described ; and this is the case 



