PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 1 45 



been altered ; but, nevertheless, horses are more useful 

 than ever in war. They are used as chargers for field 

 officers and aides-de-camps, and artillery, on which the 

 success of a modern battle chiefly depends, could not be 

 managed without horses. And they are necessary to 

 bring up stores. Cavalry are still of great use as scouts 

 and to pursue fugitives. So the strength of a country in 

 war depends very much on its supply of horses. 



Although at one time the horse was chiefly used in war, 

 yet, perhaps, it is in peaceful pursuits that he has most 

 contributed to the civilization of man. As a pack horse, 

 as a plough horse, and as a coach horse he has distributed 

 goods, increased the food supply, and conveyed passengers, 

 letters, and merchandise throughout the country. An 

 hundred years ago, if the horses had been exterminated in 

 England, famine and depopulation would have been the 

 result. But since steam engines are coming into such 

 general use, horses are not so necessary to man as they 

 were, and it is possible that before long the use of horses 

 will be chiefly confined to luxury and sport, to farm work 

 and to war. But it is worthy of remark that even in this 

 age of machinery the force of engines is still calculated in 

 horse power, horse power being the force which will raise 

 33,000 lbs. one foot in one minute. 



And this fact bears strong testimony to the great 

 services which the horse has rendered to mankind. 



The earhest use of animals to assist the strength of 

 man appears to have been brought about by the taming of 

 wild cattle. Several varieties of wild bulls were dis- 

 tributed throughout Europe and Asia, such as the Bos 

 Primigenius, Bison Europeus, and Bos Longifrons, and 

 were chased by the primitive hunters. The full grown 

 animals were ferocious, but when the young were caught 

 and brought up by hand they soon became tame and 

 continued about the dwellings of their masters. And 



