78 
CONFORMATION AND ACTION, &C. 
lectures he has been attending 1 on the “anatomy, physiology, 
and pathology of the horse.” One man brings a horse to him 
on account of the animal being lame or having a cold 5 but 
another consults him concerning a horse in perfect health, in 
regard to his “ make and shape,” or conformation, and his 
action: and the latter is no less in expectation of deriving the 
knowledge he requires than the former; although the veterina¬ 
rian who is to answer his questions has been studying medicine 
alone, to the entire exclusion of a branch of science which, 
though no less requisite, has a very different origin. In fact, 
the present subject forms one of the gTand and grievous gaps 
in the education of the veterinary pupil; and as it constitutes 
no part of his scientific education, so neither is he troubled with 
interrogatories thereon in his examination. 
They have long “ ordered these things better in France.” 
Bourgelat (who may be looked upon as the John Hunter of 
veterinary science in France) wrote a work entitled “ A Treatise 
on the Exterior Conformation of the Horse,” which at the 
present day is still the standard work on the subject; and one, 
therefore, which it seems but right that we should look into 
before we proceed further, there being little or nothing that we 
can usefully refer to in our own language. 
In order to arrive at a knowledge of perfect or faulty con¬ 
formation, Bourgelat conceived it expedient to make a division 
of the whole animal body into fore hand or fore quarter, hind 
hand or hind quarter, and body , properly so called. 
The fore hand comprised the head , the neck, the withers, the 
breast , the shoulders , and th e fore limbs . 
The body comprehended the back , the loins, the sides, the 
belly , the flanks , and the sheath or udder . 
The hind hand comprised the croup, haunches, thighs. 
In the Head 
There were three things to be considered—its volume, its length, 
and its position. 
In the Neck, 
Also, are three considerations—its length, its sortie from the 
chest, and its mane. 
In the Withers, 
Their height and conformation. 
In the Breast, 
Its breadth. 
