466 



THE TRANSIT OF HORSES 



its other end is a small weight, surmounted l)y a sjjiral spring, and confined 

 in a small box (fig. 653). By this arrangement only one rope is engaged in 

 the tying, and that is entirely removed from possible contact with the feet. 

 Instead of the horse being bound down by the head, he enjoys comparative 

 freedom and comfort, and indeed such an amount of liberty as will enable 

 him to recover himself from any awkward position in which he may, from 

 restiveness or other cause, become involved. Another conspicuous and 

 important advantage of the fastenings of this appliance is that, should he 



Fig. 653. — Bartrum's Tethering Appiiratu 



fail to free himself, he can be set at liberty at once, through the door of 

 the coupe, by removing the spring hook from the ring in the nose-band. 

 These and other solid advantages are presented by the Bartrum device, 

 which promise to do away with much of that suffering and loss which 

 attend the transit of horses by rail." 



Another serious objection to horse-boxes is that the padding which 

 prevents injury to the skin is not removable for purposes of disinfection 

 or ordinary cleansing, hence the danger of infectious disease, even if the 

 utmost care were exercised. The ordure from the last inmate commonly 

 remains, despite Rule 15 (Transit Order, Animals Act), which requires 

 that the vehicle shall be thoroughly cleansed according to specified direc- 

 tions therein contained. Neglect to comply with these orders carries 



