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Scientific Proceedings, Roi/al Dublin Socielij. 





deterioration gives the impression always of a square figure formed by tlie 

 hip joints and the stifles (fig. 5 a). On the contrary, in tlie horse in whioli 

 skeletal deterioration exists, the impression received 

 is tliat of a wedge-shaped figure (fig. 5 b). In such 

 a " wedged horse," if we may call it so, tlie whole 

 sequence of defects of the skeleton certainly exist. 



Many of the small breeds of iiorses exhibit this 

 deterioration of the skeleton, such as the Iceland, 

 the Burmese, and the Kaffir ponies of South Africa. 



On the other hand, some small races are appa- 

 rently quite free from it; for example, the Basuto 

 and the Connemara ponies apparently show no 

 deterioration of the skeleton. 



It would seem that locality determines this con- 

 dition to a great extent. It comes about apparently 

 by the distribution of horses in localities unsuitable 

 to them, and into which in the natural course of 

 things tiiey would not have found their way. To 

 some extent it is present in almost all races of horses 

 in which any size has been attained. This is appa- 

 rently due to the attempt to force size at the expense 

 of the substance of bone. It must be due also, no 

 doubt, to artificial conditions of life. Perhaps more 

 than from any other cause, it is perpetuated by 

 breeding from animals in which the condition has 

 been inherited. 



I found all the Hungarian horses imported into 

 South Africa, that passed through my hands (and 

 there were iiundreds of them), deteriorated in a 

 marked degree. Only very few of a large number 

 of Australian, North American, and Canadian 

 horses were found to be so aflteoted. About fiftj' 

 per cent, of the artillery horses were degenerate in 

 the sense indicated, but only to a slight degree. 

 About fifty per cent, of the English cavalry horses 

 were deteriorated. On the other hand, many thou- 

 sands of American mules from New Orleans were Fk;. i. 

 quite free from any trace of deterioration ; and very 



few instances of degeneracy were noticed among the Italian mules imported 

 into South A fiica. 



