SAULTED HORSES. 57 



the progeny of a saulted stallion and a saulted mare 

 suffered less, or were less likely to die from the disease, 

 than animals imported from other regions. Again, if 

 the foal should have two generations of saulted 

 ancestors, it will have the complaint in a very miti- 

 gated form. Instances are occasionally known of horses 

 not having the sickness the first year, but that gives no 

 assurance they will not have it the second ; in fact, the 

 life of no horse that does not sault is safe during the 

 months already mentioned. 



When a horse takes the sickness, or at least shows 

 indications of it, thirty-six hours will terminate the 

 matter one way or the other; if the unfortunate 

 animal is alive after that, experienced persons would 

 pronounce an opinion, or express a hope, that the 

 creature was going to sault. When such is the case, 

 the animal must not be worked for many months, 

 but must receive superior food, and be blanketed or 

 housed at night. As a rule, horses that are saulted 

 are easily known, for their coats stare in large flea-bite 

 marks, especially about the neck and withers, and on the 

 flanks. Between the jaw-bones, close up to the windpipe, 

 there is a large perceptible swelling, the eye loses its 

 lustre, and the creature evinces a disinclination to violent 

 exercise. A saulted horse is thus always sluggish and 

 careless, and must be ridden on a sharp bit and with 

 severe spurs. What causes horses to be so much valued 

 in the countries so fatal to them is, that nowadays, 

 since fire-arms are comparatively common in the interior, 

 elephants have become so wary and savage, that stalking 

 them on foot is extremely dangerous and arduous ; 

 whereas, if you have a good horse, they are easily 

 overtaken, and their attacks avoided. 



