The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-02-05
Htnfs on IforseJfcsh.

/
A series of lectures on human and COM
parativc anatomy was recently delivered
In New York, by DR.. Lemercicr, Of Paris
one of which was devoted to tho horse.
The discourse was illustrated by means
Of an articulaten, life-size model, and
some noteworthy facts were elected.
After explaining the physiology Of the
horse, and remarking the admirable ad-
aptation of the various parts to strength
and speed, the lecturer said that, rs five
years are required for the completion OF
the bone-structurc of the horse, IL Is I'M
portant that he be carefully used until
that age. If he is early ovcrworkcd, the
llgaments which unite his hundred and
thirty bones are prevented from becoming
sufficiently fixed to the frame, and he Is
dwarfed, and wears out or dies long be-
fore reaching the full twenty-five years
which should be the average duration OF
his life and vigor. The muscles Of fine
horse should be thick and very long (;
thickness ensures strength, and length an
extended sweep of limb. Propcrly-con-
structed harness Is AS essential to the
comfort of horse rs easy clothes are
necessary to the comfort Of man. IL
harness Is not well fitted to the form. the
veins arc compressed, circulation Is re-
tarded, and decease ensucs. When in
motion, the horse regulates his centre OF
gravity by using his head and neck. The
check-reln Is therefore inhuman and In
furious. II horse Is compelled to run
with his head In vertical position, the
centre of gravity Is thrown too far back,
and he advances with dlfllcrlty. The
ears may be called indiccs Of the horses
mind. Intelligent animals prick up their
ears when spoken to, vicious ones throw
their ears back. A blind horse directs
one ear forward and one backward, and
in deaf horse the ears are without ex-
preston. The ears ofthe best horses are
short, and wide apart; the eyes are well
open, and the forehead Is broad. A broad
forehead indicates a good brain. The
Arabs say: "The horse must have the
flat forehead and the courage Of the bulh"
The horse brcathes by his nose, and not
by his mouth; hence the nostrils should
be large, so that fresh air may be taken
I'm freely. Dealers enlarge the nostrils OF
their horses by artificial means. The
mouth Of q young horse Is round; In age
II becomes narrow and elongated. The
Arab says, when speaking of his horse
''The first seven years are for my young
brother, the next seven for myself, and
the last for my enemy" A horse has
only one jugular-vcin; a man has three.
The withcrs can never be too high. The
higher they are, the easier the animal
travels. The loin should bc short, the
chest square, and the shoulders well de-
velsped. Tho veterinary surgeon who
said, "No foot, no horse" was perfectly
correct. The hoof Is most curious and
complicated mechanism; an elastic box,
which expands and contracts rs the horse
raises or puts down the foot. Shoeing
should be done with care and skill, or the
natural form of the hoof Is destroyed.
Above all. so noble an animal should al
ways be treated with the greatest kind
ness, and no pains should be spared to
make his bonds rs easy to wear rs may
be.-Hearh and Home.