tic 



: 



MEANS OF SUBJUGATING ANIMALS. 119 



taste with food which nature does not furnish to them, we excite 

 in them a still greater gratitude ; and they show, from an arti- 

 ficial treatment, new wants, which man alone can satisfy * ; and, 

 finally, to these means we may unite caresses also, the influence 

 of which is very great over certain animals. When once, by 

 habit and kindness, familiarity is established and confidence 

 obtained, Man may make his authority felt, and may apply 

 punishment, in order to transform the sentiments, whose mani- 

 festation he wishes to repress, into that of fear. By the associa- 

 tion of ideas which result from this practice, the first of these 

 sentiments is weakened by degrees, and is sometimes even at last 

 completely destroyed ; but the employment of force ought never 

 to be without a limit, for excessive punishment often excites to 

 revolt ; and, at other times, when fear is carried too far, it dis- 

 turbs the faculties. The prevention of sleep is also a powerful 

 means of weakening the will of the animal, and of reducing it to 

 obedience ; for it does not know how to refer the fatigue and 

 uneasiness which it experiences from it, to that which is really 

 the cause of it : and in this state the affectionate feelings occa- 

 sioned by kindness experience less resistance, and take root more 

 deeply ; whilst, on the other hand, fear acts with more readiness 

 and force. 



105. Thus we see, that it is through those wants, over which 

 we can exercise some influence, and by repressing the manifesta- 

 tion of certain feelings by the development of some others, 

 at we are enabled to reduce animals to subjection. All the 

 ammalia are not, however, equally sensible to kindness ; and, 

 consequently, do not allow themselves to be subdued with the 

 same readiness, or in so complete a manner. Their passions are 

 often too violent, for the animal ever to arrive at the mastery of 

 them, and to become obedient to his master. Their natural 

 distrust is often so great, and their excitability such, that we 

 know not how to impose any rule of conduct on them ; and in 

 other instances, again, the intelligence of these beings appears too 



* It is chiefly by means of sugar and other sweetmeats that horses and deer are 

 trained to the extraordinary exercises which we sometimes witness in our circuses. 



