122 BITS AXD BITTING. 



dividuals, there can be no such thing as a universally 

 applicable bit or bridle, any more than that certain 

 quack medicines can be, as asserted, equally suited to 

 all men and women indifferently, and to cure all di- 

 seases, whatever their nature. Had such been his idea, 

 it would have been very silly of him to take the pains 

 and trouble of -uTiting and publishing this Part II. and 

 he would probably have contented himself with ad- 

 vertising some patent contrivance bearing his own 

 name, according to the usual practice of quacks and 

 nostrum-mongers. This however, was very carefully 

 avoided; the object of the book being in great measm-e 

 to induce horse owners to think for themselves on 

 this subject. But the business brigandage, which is 

 so rampant amongst us nowadays got hold of the 

 matter, and the author found to his great disgust, 

 and annoyance that a London Saddler had advertised 

 and was selling in great numbers, under the name of 

 "Major Dwyer's Bridles," simply the commonest clumsy 

 pony bits that can be imagined, all of one pattern, and 

 nearly, if not altogether, the same size, consequently 

 anything but universally applicable. The name of a 

 nobleman having been used for the purpose of getting 

 up this smart stroke of business, the public was, as 

 usual, gidled, with which the author has nothing to 

 do ; but he has a right to protest against such a use 

 being made of his name, because he certainly never 

 represented that any one shape or dimension of bit is 

 universally applicable, but on the contrary always in- 

 sisted and still insists, that each individual animal 

 ought to be provided with a bit that suits the dimen- 

 sions of its mouth, &c. 



