STABLE MANAGEMENT 267 



occasioned, frequently creating a difificulty in future. 

 The violent manner in which some men will foolishly 

 grasp the tongue, and the severity used in attempt- 

 ing to hold the animal, cause pain which the poor 

 creature assuredly resists. The use of the balling- 

 iron must be on all occasions positively interdicted. 

 The assistant should place his right hand on the 

 nose of the horse in such a manner as not to press 

 on the soft portion or cartilage, and thereby interrupt 

 the breathing ; he then inserts his thumb on the bars, 

 and, with two fingers placed on the lower jaw, opens 

 the mouth, which being performed with tenderness, 

 will not create alarm or confusion. The operator 

 having his right hand defended by a glove, the two 

 forefingers of which have been cut off, places the ball 

 between those fingers, keeping his hand as flat as 

 possible, not with his knuckles arched — a foolish, bad 

 custom ; then, by taking hold of the tongue very 

 gently with his left hand, he draws it out of the 

 mouth as far as he conveniently can without causing 

 pain, when, by inserting the ball on the root of the 

 tongue, he quickly withdraws his hand, and im- 

 mediately shutting the horse's mouth, the ball will 

 be swallowed without trouble. Old horses that have 

 been frequently tortured by ruffianly treatment are 

 naturally much averse to the operation, but this arises 

 entirely from previous ill-usage." 



There should also be in the medicine chest 

 materials for an astringent lotion, for thrushes, 

 cracked heels, sore shoulders, saddle galls, or any 



