REVIEW. 
471 
that the heavy structure of the fore legs is joined to the rest of the 
frame by merely muscular attachments calculated not to communicate 
impulse, but to break concussion, and I trust it will appear that we 
have sufficient grounds for justifying the conclusion that the propelling 
power of the horse does not reside in his fore legs. 
“ But when we turn to the hind legs, which, instead of being united 
by a flexible and elastic muscular attachment to the rest of the frame, 
are inserted into the extremity of the spinal column by connecting 
bones of large dimensions, and eminently calculated from their direction 
to communicate impulse to the whole figure, we find all the conditions 
requisite for the exertion of progressive energy present in a very high 
degree. The limb is brought to the ground with all its parts in a high 
state of contraction, the shank bone forming an angle with the upper 
leg bone or tibia at the hock; the tibia forming an angle with the 
thigh bone or femur at the stifle joint, and the femur forming again 
another angle with the haunch bone or ischium, which last abuts di¬ 
rectly on the lumbar vertebrae, and is the immediate agent in conveying 
the impulsive force of the hind legs to that centre of the system. Here 
then we have a series of no less than three angles, not to speak of the 
elastic apparatus of the pastern, in the successive opening out of which, 
by contraction of the limb at every stride, all the muscular energy of 
the hind quarters is called into play, and thus the foot forming the point 
of resistance, the body of the animal at every stretch of the hind legs 
is shot forward with a velocity proportioned to the amount of muscular 
action exerted in that process of extension. Thus is it made perfectly 
clear, that the whole propelling power of the horse is situated in, and 
exercised by, the hind quarters.” (p. 50.) 
Our author contends that many disorganizations might 
be prevented by proper training, and adapting the burthen 
to the figure of the animal, so as not to disturb the natural 
centre of gravity, of which he offers illustrations, and closes 
his observations under this section by stating— 
“ If I be right in these views, founded as they are on the first prin¬ 
ciples of mechanical philosophy, it would follow that for contracted 
hoofs, ring-bone, navicular disease, splents, spavins, curbs, shoulder 
lameness, and all the rest of the organic diseases which affect the legs 
of horses, as well as those cases of supposed lameness which are no¬ 
thing more than irregularities of the action, the radical cure ought to 
be sought at the hands, not of the veterinary surgeon, but of the vete¬ 
rinary trainer. Such a conclusion will no doubt appear startling to the 
profession, but if the facts be as I assert, the conclusion is inevitable.” 
(P- 77.) 
Under the head of (< Stable management” he strongly 
condemns low and dark stables, and as justly contends that 
“Ventilation is imperative to the health and general soundness of 
animal nature. The air we inhale is a very different one from that 
which we expire; the former is atmospheric, and charged with life- 
sustaining qualities; the latter is constituted of deleterious gases, 
