tfommumcatioitg anfc iffitars. 
Ars vetcrinaria post 
mcdicinam sceunda cst.—V egetius. 
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE HORSE. 
By Mr. Karkeek, Truro. 
To the Editors of “ The Veterinarian.” 
Gentlemen, —We should not again have intruded the sub¬ 
ject of the “ Origin of the Horse” on your valuable publication, 
had it not been for the different view adopted by the author of 
the “ Farmers' Series,” which you so kindly pointed out to your 
readers, in the last number of the “ Veterinarian.” 
Without intending to enter into the depths of controversy on 
the subject (for we candidly confess, that, had we been aware of 
the existence of such a publication, our humble sketch on breed¬ 
ing, which was principally composed during our pupilage at the 
Veterinary College, would never have appeared in the literary 
horizon with so formidable a rival), we cannot help endeavouring 
to substantiate our former opinion, i. e ., that Arabia possessed 
horses in great numbers at a very early period of the world, and 
has, we consider, stronger claims to be entitled the primeval seat 
of those animals than any other country. To do this, we must 
be excused for entering into a short detail of the different cir¬ 
cumstances connected with the history of Arabia, and likewise 
for pointing out the different passages in history which the 
author of the “ Farmers’ Series” has misapplied. He commenced 
with the Greek history of the birth of the horse: — 
“ When Neptune* his huge trident hurl’d 
Against the sounding beach, the stroke 
Transfix’d the globe, and open broke 
The central earth, whence swift as light 
Forth rush’d the first-born horse.” 
* The invention of bridles is likewise ascribed to Neptune by Statius 
“-— — Neptunus in equo, si ccrta priorum 
Faina patet, primus teneris iajsisse lupatis 
Ora, ctlittorco domuissc in pulvcre fertur.” 
this appears a gift of the comic Latin poet: the Greeks having given 
Neptune the credit of manufacturing the first horse, the poet naturally 
enough considered the Creator of the animal to be the first who subdued 
him for the diiferent purposes of mankind. 
