HEREDITARY TENDENCY TO DISEASE. 
339 
farms where no hay is grown ; that double the usual number of 
cattle may, by this method, be fattened on the ordinary quantity 
of turnips ; and that abundance of the richest manure may, con- 
sequently, be made at home. 
Some modifications of this method of feeding would be required 
on small holdings, but to occupiers of large farms I strongly 
recommend its immediate adoption. 
I much regret that urgent business called me away from Mr. 
Hutton’s directly after dinner, for I thus lost the advantage of 
hearing the valuable remarks which I feel sure would be made by 
many of the experienced gentlemen who were present. 
N. J. Turner. 
Richmond, Yorkshire, Dec. 27, 1847. 
Hereditary Tendency to Disease and the Reproduction 
of Malformation in the Progeny of 
Breeding Animals. 
By Mr. J. M‘GlLLAVRAY, V.S., Huntly. 
T HAVE long been of opinion, that, in the breeding of young 
horses, farmers and others pa}' too little attention to the physical 
qualifications and general conformations of the animals they em- 
ploy as parents. It is an old. a true, and well-known saying, that 
“like produces like;” and it requires only a careful observation of 
facts to be convinced of the correctness of this laconic maxim. 
From circumstances that have forced themselves on my notice for 
some time back, I have been led to pay particular attention to the 
above branch of our rural economy. The circumstances to which 
I more immediately refer consist in a certain uprightness of pas- 
tern occurring in foals, in consequence of which they walk too 
much on the toe or front part of the hoof. These parts are in the 
young animals extremely soft — they are soon worn off — the toe 
becomes too short ; as a matter of course, this increases the evil : 
the foot is thus placed in a false position, as regards the limb and 
the animal. The coronet bone is pushed into the upper part of the 
hoof, which then projects over the lower part or toe ; and very soon 
the little animal is fairly knuckled forward, and can neither stand 
nor walk but with extreme difficulty. A peculiar method of shoe- 
ing becomes necessary, so as to bring the foot again to its proper 
position, and save the beast from utter uselessness. 
It being a fact that the evils alluded to have appeared among 
the progeny of certain stallions, and by a variety of mares, leaves 
little room to doubt but that the stallion is the cause ; and we are 
