. Points of the horse; a treatise on the conformation, movements, breeds and evolution of the horse. Horses. ABNORMAL FOOT OF HORSE. 289 ligament. If we agree in considering the working of the laws of nature to be perfect, we cannot accept the theory of special creation ; but must regard the body of the horse, like that of other animals, to be in a transition state ; in that it is con- stantly, though slowly, accommodating itself to the conditions of life in which it finds itself. While indulging in the present train of thought, the first question which the inquirer after knowledge will probab
. Points of the horse; a treatise on the conformation, movements, breeds and evolution of the horse. Horses. ABNORMAL FOOT OF HORSE. 289 ligament. If we agree in considering the working of the laws of nature to be perfect, we cannot accept the theory of special creation ; but must regard the body of the horse, like that of other animals, to be in a transition state ; in that it is con- stantly, though slowly, accommodating itself to the conditions of life in which it finds itself. While indulging in the present train of thought, the first question which the inquirer after knowledge will probably ask will be : The splint-bones being in a state of transition, what was their previous form and. Fig. 375.—Fore Foot of Pig (|th real length). functions, and what conditions have reduced them to their present rudimentary state ? I shall now try to suggest answers to these questions. On rare occasions we find in the horse that one or two of the splint-bones have the character of the cannon-bone, in that they are provided with a more or less perfect pastern and hoof. From time to time there have been well-authenti- cated instances of horses which were so completely furnished in this respect on their front feet, that, instead of having been shod on only four feet, they carried iron on eight. I need hardly say that the four supplementary shoes were applied merely for exhibition purposes. Such a digit is well shown in Fig. 290, which is a reproduction of a photograph u. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Hayes, M. Horace (Matthew Horace), 1842-1904. London, W. Thacker & co
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecthorses, bookyear1897
