THE ELECTRIC BIT. 



251 



the Paris General Omnibus Company has experimented successfully, as we 

 are informed, with the arrangement we are about to describe. A small 

 magneto-electric machine is contained in a box beside the driver, within easy 

 and convenient reach of his hand. The reins contain a wire, one end of 

 which terminates in the horse's bit, and the other in the electro-magnetic 

 apparatus. When the electro-magnet is put in action an electric current is 

 generated, which gives the horse a shock in the mouth, and so astonishes him 

 that he suddenly stops in his course. If the operator have the humanity 

 and good sense to unite kindness to the abrupt application of the electricity, 

 which in our opinion should be only used as a last resource, no doubt 

 some excellent results may be obtained even with vicious animals. 



M. Bella, the Director of the Omnibus Company, has reported that 



Fig. 261. The electric stamp. 



the apparatus was tried in his presence and found very successful, and quite 

 easy of application ; and that even the most unruly animals have been 

 subjected by it. On one occasion a most restive animal was thus treated on 

 the way to the forge. He had a tremendous objection to be shod, and 

 made no secret of his dislike. But a gentle application of the electric 

 current put quite an opposite complexion upon the matter, and after a few 

 minutes the animal permitted himself to be patted and caressed, and even 

 allowed the smith to feel his legs and inspect his feet without making any 

 objection whatever. His shoes were taken off, and the horse was re-shod 

 without any of the dangerous demonstrations hitherto indulged in by the 

 animal. 



We may quote another instance of the efficacy of this method, which 

 is reported from Paris by M. Camille. 



