62 



PHYSIC. 



The most common form of balling-iron is constructed according to the 

 model indicated in the preceding illustration. The circular piece of metal 

 is inserted into the mouth of the animal. A straight bar is attached to 

 either side of the metallic ring, the design of these last being to steady 

 the instrument after it has been forced into its proper position. Through 

 the circle the operator's arm is thrust, and the iron ring aifords security 

 so far as it disables the jaws from closing upon the member. But, though 

 safe in one direction, such a protection also creates its particular peril ; 

 for, should the horse rear, the arm, being surrounded by a metallic rim, 

 could not be withdrawn with the speed requisite to insure the operator's 



safety. The suspension of the man's 

 body is almost certain to provoke the 

 fracture of his imprisoned limb ; conse- 

 quently, to remedy that evil, the im- 

 provement indicated by the right-hand 

 illustration was introduced. 



The circle in the foregoing is left free 

 on one side; thus, the inexpert have a 

 little more time allowed for their move- 

 ments. The arm could be retracted with 

 greater ease, and the former danger was, 

 in a great measure, removed. Still, this 

 new shape was not wholly satisfactory. 

 The form was fixed : horses are not all 

 of one height, one breadth, or of one 

 capacity. There are small creatures 

 designated ponies ; while horses are not 

 rarely encountered of enormous propor- 

 tions. As the iron has no power of 

 being adapted, the form that should 

 prove not large enough for one may be 

 altogether disproportioned to another 

 quadruped. 



The weight of metal necessarily em- 

 ployed to assure the requisite strength, 

 also rendered it inconvenient for a veter- 

 inary surgeon to carry more than one of 

 these bulky articles; and though small 

 was the amount of ingenuity which had 

 hitherto been lavished on the improvement of the thing, for years it con- 

 tinued of the last character. Mr. Yarnell, assistant professor at the 

 Royal Veterinary College, however, appears to have entirely removed 



A NEW BAtLmO-mON, INTENTED BT PROFES- 

 SOR VARNELl, OF THE ROTAL VETERINARY 

 COLLEGE, LONDON. 



A A. India-rubber tubing, to protect the 

 mouth from the hEirshnees of the metal 

 bars. 



B B B. Side pieces to keep the iron in its 

 situation. 



C. The handle. 



D. The lower bar, attached to the handle. 



E. The side piece, which can be raised or 

 depressed. 



F. The screw, at the extremity of the 

 Bide piece. 



G. The nut which, fastened to the handle, 

 acts upon the screw and fixes its position. 



