546 



OX DEAUGHT. 



frequently witnessed the practical effects of this arrangement has sug- 

 gested the propriety of introducing it into the Artillery, by means of which 

 a number of horses might in an instant be attached to a gun, to extricate it 

 from any heavy or broken ground in which it might be entangled. Cer- 

 tainly, the length of these traces would enable these additional horses to 

 secure a good footing ; and any number of horses might thus be made to 

 lend their assistance in time of need. We do not pretend, however, to 

 judge of the practical utihty of this measure, but merely record the sugges- 

 tion of another. 



The collar now generally used is an improvement upon the ancient 

 shoulder-strap described by Homer ; and it is probably the best possible 

 mode of attaching the traces to the horses. If the connection is made at 

 the proper place on the collar, the latter bears flat and evenly upon the 

 muscles which cover the collar-bone, and the shoulders of the horse are left 

 almost as free in their action as if the collar were not there. About A, 

 {figs. 14, 15), is the point of the shoulder where the trace should come ; and 

 Fiy. 14. Fig. 15. 



a httle mclmation downwards, which can easily be effected in the case of 

 the shaft-horse by the shafts, and in the others by the belly-band, will, if 

 necessary, prevent the collar rising up, and inconveniencing the throat of 

 the horse. 



Reflecting upon the various circumstances which we have sho^ra to 

 occur m the application of animal power, and the various conclusions we 

 have drawn while considering the best and most advantageous application 

 of this power— and Ave must be excused the frequent repetition of the terms, 

 for the sake of the clearness gained by it— it would appear that the resist- 

 ance should be as much as possible rigid and inelastic, so as to receive 

 immediately, and unimpaired, the direct eff"ects of the slightly irregular 

 exertions of the animal ; that this resistance should not be such as to yield 

 directly to a sudden impulse ; that it should be so far uniform as to be free 

 from AHolent changes or sudden shocks, but not so constant as to allow of 

 no remission, nor of those alternations of exertion and comparative relaxa- 



