THE SENSORIAL FUNCTION. ] 9 



CHAPTER VI. 

 THE SENSORIAL FUNCTION. 



Beautiful as is the horse, and identified so much with our pleasure and our 

 profit, he has been the object of almost universal regard ; and there are few- 

 persons who do not pretend to be somewhat competent judges of his form 

 qualities, and worth. From the nobleman, with his numerous and valuable 

 stud, to the meanest helper in the stable, there is scarcely a man who would 

 not be offended if he were thought altogether ignorant of horse-flesh. There is 

 no subject on which he is so positive ; there is no subject on which, generally- 

 speaking, he is so deficient ; and there are few horses on some points of which 

 these pretended and self-sufficient judges would not give a totally opposite 

 opinion. 



The truth is, that this supposed knowledge is rarely founded on principle, or 

 the result of the slightest acquaintance with the actual structure of the animal 

 — the form and connexion of parts on which strength, or fleetness, or stoutness 

 must necessarily depend. 



In speaking of the structure of this animal, and the points which guide the 

 opinion of real judges of him, we shall, as briefly and as simply as we are able, 

 explain those fundamental principles on which his usefulness and beauty must 

 depend. We require one kind of horse for slow and heavy draught, and another 

 for lighter and quicker work ; one as a pleasant and safe roadster — another, with 

 more speed and equal continuance, as a hunter — and another still is wanted for 

 the race-course. What is the peculiarity of structure — what are the particular 

 points that will fit each for his proper business, and, to a certain degree, unfit 

 him for everything else? The farmer will require a horse of all-work, that can 

 carry him to market and take him round his farm — on which he can occasion- 

 ally ride for pleasure, and which he must sometimes degrade to the dung-cart 

 or the harrow. What combination of powers will enable the animal to discharge 

 most of these duties well, and all of them to a certain extent profitably ? 



Much time spent among horses, an acquired love of them, and a little, some- 

 times possibly too dearly-bought, experience, may give the agriculturist some 

 insight into these matters. We will try whether we cannot assist him in this 

 affair — whether we cannot explain to him the reason why certain points must 

 be good, and why a horse without them must of necessity be good for nothing. 

 Perhaps some useful rules may thus be more deeply impressed upon his memory, 

 or some common but dangerous prejudices may be discarded, and a considerable 

 degree of error, disappointment, and expense avoided. 



If we treat of this at considerable length, let it be remembered that the horse 

 is our noblest servant, and that, in describing the structure and economy of his 

 frame, we are in a great measure describing that of other domestic quadrupeds, 

 and shall hereafter have to speak only of points of difference required by the 

 different services and uses for which they were destined. And further, let it 

 be remembered, that it is only by being well acquainted with the structure and 

 anatomy of the horse that we can appreciate his shape and uses, or understand 

 the different diseases to which he is liable. It is from the want of this that 

 much of the mass of ignorance and prejudice which exists as to the diseases 

 to which he is subject is to be referred. 



The nervous system will first pass in review, for it is the moving power of 

 the whole machine. It consists of the brain, to which all sensation is referred 

 or carried, and from which all voluntary motion is derived — the spinal cord, 



