348 HUNTERS. 



that should have appeared with more pro- 

 priety under the article of '' shoeing/' and 

 frequent ill ilsage of smiths, I am induced 

 to submit it to consideration before I take, 

 leave of the subject before us. It is wha 

 have ever thought a too unjustifiable and 

 great exertion of strength^ in the use and 

 twist of the twitch, when a horse is put into 

 that excruciating state of coercion for shoe- 

 ing, or any other operation. In this extre« 

 mity of pain and humiliation, the eyes are 

 frequently observed agitated, even to the ex- 

 pulsion of tears, from the great irritability 

 and greater stimulation of the nervous sys- 

 tem ; this is so seldom regulated by the salu- 

 tary interposition of judgment, humanity, and 

 discretion, that I shall ever retain doubts, 

 from the observation I have made, whether 

 various defects in the eyes, or a paralytic 

 state of the optic nerves, may not be xmy 

 commonly produced by such means, when 

 attributed to more remote causes. 



