194 THE TRUNK. 



of soft food (boiled turnips, for instance), which they can 

 quickly consume, exerts, among other evils, a most injurious 

 effect on the muscles of the stomach, intestines and abdomen ; 

 for, being deprived of the rest which is necessary to their 

 repair and development, by the continued pressure resulting 

 from the presence of the bulky food, these muscles soon 

 become ill-fitted to perform their work. On the other hand, 

 we should guard against a " tucked up " condition of belly, 

 which will indicate illness, over-work, too excitable a tempera- 

 ment, or improper management of some kind. If we consider 

 that these abdominal muscles act by tending to become 

 straight between their points of attachment, and that when 

 in a passive state they are longer than when they contract, 

 we shall see that, when in a condition of rest, they should be 

 gently rounded, and should be neither drawn straight nor 

 bulged out. In Chapter XXII., I shall consider the special 

 development of these muscles. 



Withers.' — The chief object which the withers fulfil, is to 

 afford attachment for the suspensory ligament of the head 

 and neck ; for muscles which extend the head and neck ; for 

 muscles that draw the shoulder blade forward ; for the powerful 

 muscle that runs along the top of the back and extends the 

 vertebrae ; and for a muscle which aids inspiration by bringing 

 the ribs forward. If we look at the skeleton {see Fig. 3), 

 we shall readily see that the fact of the withers rising, as they 

 do, above the line of the back, greatly assists the action of the 

 elastic ligament that supports the head and neck, and of the 

 muscles which extend these parts. It also increases the 

 power of the muscle which extends the back and loins. 

 Besides, it tends to give length to the muscle which is at- 



