Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-10-05
OF Voluntary and Involuntary Motions.

w. - W NV ob az tiA'Nf = . btN ttN movement
cannot be constant it is absolutely necessary
that it he followed by repose. Organized be-
iags are all endowed with this faculty but il
appears above all, destined for those which in
their conformation are provided with organs Of
motion, such as animals in general. There is
among them two kinds Of movements; the one
spontaneous, which is made without the will of
the animal participating in IL in an, manner, a,
that of the heart, The stomach, the respiration
the circulation of the blood. &c. the other is
voluntary, and carries the animal by the assist
ance oil the senses 10 where his desires call him,
and makes him avoid the objects which might
injure hun.
We may hen CONSIDER the voluntary move.
ment in animals as having two very distinct OBJ
jrcis the one to conduct TO good, the other To
avoid evil. This voluntary movement condnces
perfectly 10 the health OF animals ii facilitates
the eSertions, and augments he circulation in
all the vessels.
II is relnsf ked, that Wild horses, ENJOYING all
the benefits OF nature, often run, and even chal-
leOge each other 10 this Kind of exercise. Ala.
ny travellers repor, having seen them in the
islands always in motion, snd thai they appear
ed 10 have 40 occasioH for repose. Nature in
foe has givent to he horse a conformaii, N which
obliges him 10 take The most violent exercise :;
and there Is perhaps no being in nature thai
caa dispute the prize of swittness with him.
Of Repose aud Aciion, and some precautions No.
cessary .for managing a Horse ON a journey.
Sleep suspends the action of the senses and
al the free and voluntary movemenis-at lea {
sound sleep ; for when interrupted by dreams
Or any other cause of agitation, il ceases TO be
refreshing, and rather f~aligues than restores
him. Sleep is a momentaIy cessation of the
fiinc ions Of animal life those of organic lifr
Co
stores the strength OF the whole system and il
may br asserted, is the time mos, proper for all
tue functions of the internal organs. Diges.
non is performed better than when awake
the urines are presented in the most perfect
state.
When The sleep is d Disturbed, il is more ia.
tignmg TO The animal han heing awake, and a
borse should be awoke if agilaied by any psin.
iul dream The horse sleeps bul very title, and
he should be invi'ed to il by a good bid The
greater part Of hem sleep only four hours
and there are many thai do mol lhe down, but
sleep standing. The horse, from m, make, IS
perhaps, Of all an mails, capable of standing
longest on his legs this Gil cumstebce, ho"ev
rr, should moi induce us 10 neglect littering
him, teea1s many horses do not lie down for
this re son, or that trey are IN tue mud.
Precautions 10 Travellers Useful Observations
When you would begin a journey, ii IS in-
poctant to examine The horses feet 10 see il his
shoes want renewing :.but you should not for
thai wait The moment Of departure. The horse
ought to be accustomed TO hs shoes-while they !
are new they may cause some pressure either
on the sole, OF hy the nails that coufne the
hoof.
The horse ought To be put in wind that is to
say, daily aud gradually exercised 10 the mo-
ment of his departure on = journey, that he
MAJ not be overcome by fatigue, and should
be accustomed TO bear the same portnanteau |
10 he used on a journey. He ought not 10 travel
tar the first days, but augment the distance |
gradually and almost imperceptibly Care
should be taken in feeding not to give him loo
much. The ration ofoais ought TO be increas
ed IL proportion to the work and fatigue. The
journey should be prosecuted as much AS pos
sible without hating, with the .precaution of
not putting the horse in motion until an hour
after ealing, and not feeding for half an hour
after his arrival. Then the digestion is bette, !
made, and the assimilation perfect II his
method, from any motives, be departed from,
the oats should be given before The hay but,
except 10 extreme cases, il we're better to adhere
to il.
The most favorable hour for departing on a
journey in summer, is sunrise, or even before.
By this means flies are avoided, which distress
the animal much more than the journey. In
winter, on the contrary the journey should be
performed as much as possible towards mid
day.
In general we should abstain from the harba'
rous custom of docking horses but particular
ly those intended for the road for what means
is left the animal Of defending himself against
the insects that deyour him in hot weather ?
There is moi a custom more fatal 10 the health
al fb.s in tprneIIpn animal ihan AnrEInu I'm |
account of this ridiculous mutilation. we see the
most healthy horses exposed to the sun without
means vi avoiding the flies, become lean and
fall OFF daily.
The first third Of tie journey ought to be
performed slowly the second third can be
done faster but i, is advantageous TO flush as
we begin, 10 avoid the dangers of suppressed
perspira,ion. the fruitful source OF most Of the
maladies in hoi ses-perhaps no an imal is more
subject to it.
On arriving, il the horse be warm, he ought
TO be walked slowly until he ceases 10 persPire.
He can be then unsaddled and covered after be-
ing well rubbed down with straw. His legs
should not be rubbed-thls custom is the most
pernicious that can be used the humois have
already sufficient tendency TO those parts from
the violent motion ofthe journey. 10 this case
as,ringenrs ought to be used cold water or
mixed with acid; bathing is found most benef-
cial. This prevents the founders, scratches,
(crerasse,) water in the legs, (enur aur Jam6eS,)
and other maladies occasioned by stagnant hui
mors in those parts.
The eyes. the %nostriIs, and particularly the
fundament and genital parts, either of the horse
or mare should be washed, the belly alone ex-
copied.
If the horse has made a long journey, a good
cordial should be administered an hour after his
-. a - ~ boo - f...f- ,la afntn
ach. Food will be ofintle use TO him then, be.
cause the stomach is too feet Bile to digest well.
| This cordial restores il at the moment when the
animal has most occasion Tor it.. Oats. shongh
very good, is not the best food under these CIR
cumstauces.
On arrival, and while the horse is not eating,
| undo the curb, and leave the biz in his mouth.
| This produces the Effect of a masticator, making
than chew well, and the s'omach digests pet