47 



have earned and received their due measure of restoration, 

 and retain their original dimensions ; and so it is with the 

 elastic cushion in the horse's foot ; if we deprive tlie horse 

 of the power of alternately expanding and contracting his 

 foot, as nature intended, he should do, this cushion will 

 shrink, and lose its elasticity ; but if we supply him with 

 the means of doing so, he ^vill avail himself of them ; and 

 its elasticity will be retained to a good old age. 



The almost perpetual movement of a horse in a state of 

 nature, while grazing, greatly tends to pi'eserve the different 

 elastic parts of his foot in a sound and healthy condition 

 "by the regular compression and expansion, which they undergo, 

 according as the weight is thrown upon, or removed from 

 them ; but, if we chain him to a post for twenty two out 

 of every twenty four hours, we can scarcely wonder, that 

 so unnatural a proceeding should derange an organ, that 

 requires motion, to preserve it in health. Take the horses of 

 a cavalry regiment in illustration of the mischievous tendency 

 of this practice ; they have every thing in favour of sound 

 feet except the stall and the rack chain ; they are entirely 

 exempt from the hard work, which is generally referred to as 

 the cause of grogginess ; they have no oft repeated, and long 

 journeys to perform at a fast pace on the hard road ; their 

 exercise, shoemg, grooming, and feeding, are all administered 

 with clockwork regularity ; the htter is carefiUly removed 

 from under their feet during the day ; the veterinary surgeon 

 is always at hand, to attend to the first symptoms of lame- 

 ness ; and still there are more horses cast, as unserviceable, 

 every year from disabilities commencing in the foot, than 



