55 



remaining supjDort, thus forcing him to equahze the jDressure 

 as soon, as he can, by dividing it between the remaining 

 support before, and the leg of the opposite side behind. 

 Experience has taught him, that this is best effected by 

 adjusting the balance, before he removes the suffering foot 

 from the ground ; and we accordingly observe him commen- 

 cing the process by withdrawing the support of the liind 

 leg, and then, having arranged the balance to his mind, he 

 raises the foot, intended to be rested, and, earring it forward, 

 deposits it at such a distance from the base, as shall 

 insure to it perfect exemption from sustaining any of the 

 weight. We can readily imagine that an animal, formed to 

 stand upon four legs, would find it an irksome business to 

 support himself for any length of time upon two ; and po 

 in practice the horse finds it to be ; for his muscles soon 

 become weary of their increased work, and he is driven to 

 seek relief from the new pain by a change of position, 

 which again calls forth the old one ; and thus the poor 

 beast is doomed to a perpetual alternation of painful sen- 

 sations. His courage enables him to bear a great deal of 

 pain without flinching, particularly when it increases upon 

 him in the stealthy manner, that usually marks the course 

 of unsoundness in the feet. There is however a point, beyond 

 which his endurance cannot be stretched; and the progres- 

 sive nature of unsoundness is sure in the end to find it 

 out ; and although he may contrive by shortening his step, 

 and striking the ground less forcibly with his feet, to put 

 off the discovery, and may continue to work upon very 

 unsound feet even for years, still he is at last compelled to 



