THE SO-CALLED "INCAPACITATING VICES." 2*73 



try. Such persons have tried the effect of mounting upon the wrong 

 side; this has usually, for a certain time, been attended with perfect 

 success ; but the custom, after a space, has seemed to involve the sound 

 ligaments, when the kicking has been renewed with more than double 

 vehemence. A horse which kicks in the way described, should always 

 be transferred to harness work, when no vast weight being upon the 

 back, the quadruped generally behaves admirably. 



Rick or chink in the back is, however, the common property of creat • 

 ures of heavy draught, and, with such a description of horse, the con- 

 sequences are usually more marked and much more severe. The reader 

 will readily imagine that a "kidney dropper," falling suddenly while 

 pulling a weighty load, can hardly escape "accident." Therefore, quad- 

 rupeds of the coarser breed, and thus afflicted, rapidly come into the 

 possession of those who do not scruple to trade with misery ; and, as 

 this form of disease enables the sufferer to appear with a blooming coat, 

 as well as with a carcass carrying a quantity of fat, the copers often reap 

 a rich harvest by their unscrupulous dishonesty. 



A common cause of these accidents is the thoughtlessness or the 

 greediness of horse proprietors. It has become almost a custom, with 

 needy masters, to send out one-horse carts upon two wheels with long 

 reins attached to the harness. The motive which induces such silly 

 behavior is obvious enough. The tradesman imagines that by the ani- 

 mal being hurried back after the load is delivered^ time can be saved. 

 He does not consider that the limbs, which have been strained dragging 

 some fearful weight to a particular spot, may, before another task of 

 magnitude is imposed, possibly require the comparatively easy walk back 

 to recover the full use of their functions. He probably, and it is hoped 

 actually, has never reflected that perpetual fatigue soon exhausts, and 

 ultimately disables, animal energy. 



The cart horse, moreover, being forced to quicken its pace, is urged 

 beyond the habits and the uses for which man has bred the creature. It 

 is compelled to execute a duty for the performance of which its bodily 

 formation renders it totally unsuited. The poor animal that is called 

 upon to fulfill opposite uses, generally endures the shorter period : be- 

 cause of the excessive labor it is obliged to undergo. The custom, there- 

 fore, accords with the saying, which illustrates waste and extravagance, 

 by supposing a candle to be lighted at both ends. The wretched horse 

 is now a cart horse, loaded to the extent of its ability ; next, it is expected 

 to display the activity of a gig horse, although it is harnessed to what 

 badly represents the lighter vehicle ; while, the long day of continued 

 toil being ended, the slave is required to trot briskly homeward with a 

 crowded load of human laborers. 



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