LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 129 
a certain amount of aortic pressure and the parturient state, and 
this condition of acute anaemia must result, and in consequence 
of this peculiar anatomical peculiarity. 
This anatomical peculiarity is a physical and mechanical arrange¬ 
ment for the purpose of modifying the rapidity of the flow of 
blood, and the type of it is that of an artery suddenly divided 
into a cluster of capillaries which re-unite to form a single vessel. 
Chauveau says of it that it relates to the circulation of the brain, 
that it would appear to be formed on the carotid and vertebral 
arteries of animals, which, in a state of nature feed from the 
ground; the object being to furnish an equable and prolonged 
supply of blood without the risk of check or hindrance, and 
thus to obviate the tendency to congestion of the brain during 
the dependent position of the head. 
But this description would apply to the horse, for in a state 
of nature, and even in his domesticated state, he feeds from the 
ground, and it is not found in him; moreover, he stands farther 
from the ground than any of the other domesticated animals, and 
when grazing the head is much more perpendicular than either, 
so that, if this arrangement be necessary in the ruminants to 
enable them to feed without congestion of the brain being induced, 
it is doubly necessary in the horse. Further, we must remember 
that solipeds are monogastric animals, with large intestinal deve¬ 
lopment, and which require a much longer time to gather and 
masticate their food than the polygastric ruminants that can 
hurriedly gather up their provender and lie down to chew at their 
leisure, consequently the solipeds most require this complicated 
cerebral arrangement of blood-vessels, if this is its object. But 
with all due deference to the opinions of such great men, I take 
the liberty of questioning the correctness of their conclusions, 
and of stating my reasons therefor. 
Every one, I presume, will be prepared to admit that in the 
arrangements of nature there seems to predominate evidence of 
benevolent design and operation. Now we judge of the design 
of a contrivance by its predominant tendencies and effects. If 
evil were to result as often as good, we could not decide whether 
the design was benevolent or not, but if we find that the bene¬ 
volent effects of any natural contrivance are so obvious and out¬ 
weigh any evil results, we are compelled to admit that the de¬ 
sign is benevolent. The law of gravity is essential to the pre¬ 
servation and comfort of the world. Yet it frequently gives rise 
to frightful accidents to men and animals. 
In the animal frame we find a multitude of organs, nearly 
all of which are obviously adapted to a particular use. Now the 
anatomist cannot lay his finger upon one of these and say, this 
was intended to produce derangement and pain in the system. 
