424 
LECTURES ON HORSES. 
The height of the horse, measured from the poll of the head to 
the ground, is estimated at three heads’ length ; from the top of the 
withers to the ground, at 24- The distance from the point of the 
shoulder to the point of the quarter, at 24 heads’ length. The 
height from the summit of the croup to the ground at 2?$$. From 
the summit of the withers to the point of immersion of the neck in 
the throat T 6 oV From this last-named point to the point of the shoul- 
der t 8 ^%. From the same point to the mane half a head’s length. 
From the withers, in a horizontal line, to a level with the lowest 
point of the back T 6 oV From the last-named point, still in a hori- 
zontal line, to a level with the summit of the croup From the 
summit of the croup, extending the same horizontal line, to a level 
with the point of the quarter -x 6 ^. From the point of the quarter 
to that of the stifle t 8 o 2 q. From one haunch to the other in a direct 
line T 8 tfV From the point of one shoulder to that of the other in a 
straight line -ffo: The greatest breadth of the belly, in a straight 
line, equal to one head’s length. The depth of the body from the 
lowest part of the back to its greatest dip, the same. The depth 
from the summit of the withers to lowest dip of chest, 1 head T 2 0 %. 
From the summit of the croup to the stifle -j 8 ?)V From the stifle 
to the hock From the hock to the ground t 8 o 2 q. From the 
withers to the stifle 1 head T 6 oV From the summit of the croup to 
the elbow 1 head T Vo* 
Two questions will naturally arise in the mind here : one is, can 
any rules of proportion be ascertained and laid down that will 
prove of service to us in practice ? — the other, supposing such rules 
can be framed with any prospect of practical advantage to us, upon 
what basis or determinate measures ought they to be founded 1 1 
will not offend the accomplished “judge of horses,” by saying that 
he is likely to derive much benefit from the study of any rules of 
this kind, however accurate their character ; but I will go so far as 
to give it as my opinion, that the student of veterinary medicine, 
or tyro in practice, might gain from attention to such rules that 
sort and amount of knowledge which would put him, in the course 
of a short time after his application of them to practice, into the 
possession of that knowledge which the “ judge” had only been 
able to arrive at either through extensive and manifold observa- 
tion or a lengthened course of practice. In a word, the student 
or beginner in such matters would, I do not hesitate to affirm, gain 
much ground by making that a study, so far as he could do so, 
which his older professional brethren had obtained but through 
great opportunities of experience or years of attentive observation. 
To give a familiar illustration of this : — a man unread in equestrian 
matters is not supposed to know what parts should be long or 
what short in the well-formed horse, or what parts should be large, 
