66 MV HORSE ; MV LOVE 



iron, heated to a white heat, was fitted over the bleeding 

 wound, and held there until it was sufficiently roasted.' 



And did the poor horse bear this cruelty patiently ? 



' He endured it bravely until the hot iron was applied, 

 and then the dreadful heart-searching scream he gave, I 

 shall never forget to my dying day — and I never saw 

 him afterward without a choking sensation of tears in the 

 remembrance.' 



Do horses always survive this cruel operation ? 



' By no means. Many die of lockjaw, in torture so 

 prolonged (their owners hoping that since they have money 

 value they may recover), that both owners and operators 

 are in dread lest the pubhc may learn of the tortured 

 animal's sufferings. The " Society for the Prevention of 

 Cruelty to Animals " has aided the enactment of the 

 strictest of laws against docking, and any man permitting 

 or performing the operation is liable to imprisonment and 

 a heavy fine.' 



It cannot be painful to bang the tail, and is infinitely 

 prettier, is it not ? 



' Most decidedly. A woman does not suffer when the 

 ends of her long hair are trimmed, and a banged tail is 

 effective, giving the idea of neat grooming. Then the 

 hairs can be cut quite short, as the stump of the tail is 

 never longer than fifteen to sixteen inches, and seldom more 

 than twelve. No idea of mutilation is suggested by banging.' 



I have seen horses whose tails seem to have no natural 

 spring. 



' Yes, but they are presumably of coarse breeds. It is 

 a natural defect, which can be remedied by cutting slightly 

 the tendons or ligaments which hold it down, even as you 

 would cut a child's tongue who is "tongue-tied." Then 



