PRELTMIXARY REMARKS. 457 



where the tie is too long and the weight too light. On other 

 occasions the shank will become twisted tightlj around the 

 neck, and the poor animal will be found half strangled, and the 

 head enormously swollen in consequence. 



7th. — Injuries to the animal from improperly constructed 

 stall posts. — A stall post may be too low or too high. If too 

 high the horse is liable to strike his head against it when step- 

 ping quickly round in the stall. "When made too low, horses 

 may kick themselves across the post. Accidents of this nature 

 have occurred, enormous abdominal ruptures have been caused 

 thereby, and death to the animal resulted. The proper height 

 for a stall post is about five feet five or six inches. 



Class II. — Causes of Injury to the Animal while 

 AT "Work. — These are also a numerous class of causes. They 

 may occur to the animal in the form of falls, violent concussions ; 

 or they may arise from an exhibition of vice, such as kicking, 

 or bolting in harness, and overturning the vehicle. Draught 

 horses when heavily loaded, and travelling down hill, are liable 

 to suffer injury from the breaking of the slipper chain, or in 

 consequence of neglect in not putting on the slipper ; also from 

 the gathering of nails within its feet ; striking of the shoe of 

 one limb against the opposite limb, arising either from a faulty 

 conformation of the limbs, or from fatigue, or bad construction 

 of the shoes, or all these causes acting in association. Also, 

 from slips of the animal in winter during the prevalence 

 of frost ; also from ill fitting, and badly constructed harness 

 and gears. The harness or gears may be too large, or too small 

 or too heavy. These and many other causes of a like nature 

 occur so frequently, and are moreover of so palpable a nature 

 that further remark upon them is unnecessary. 



