284 THE SO-CALLED "INCAPACITATING VICES." 



no end. The human being, thus distinguished, only elicits the passive 

 indifference by which his treatment is characterized. It is feeling, which 

 even in animals, responds to feeling. The horse and the dog love those 

 who like to take pains with them, or submit to trouble for their sakes. 

 The two animals are alike in this respect. How fond the dog, which 

 may for years have slept before the fire and grown enormously fat upon 

 the plentiful meals supplied by an indulgent but an indifferent master, — 

 how attached the animal speedily becomes to any person who, though a 

 stranger, will devote some time to the teaching of little canine tricks ! 

 So also with the horse ; the best way, indeed the only way, to win the 

 entire love of this creature, is to expend some labor in brightening its 

 intelligence. 



To return to the matter at present especially under consideration. 

 The jibbing which is confined to a delay at starting may be annoying, 

 but it is seldom dangerous. The animal which merely moves backward, 

 when commanded to proceed, may vex the driver, but the malady, being 

 known, its consequences can, in a great measure, be guarded against. 

 There is, however, one form of this disease which renders any animal 

 very, far from a safe possession. It is, where the horse will suddenly 

 stand still in the middle of a journey, and commence backing. The 

 more inopportune the place for such an exhibition, the more likely is the 

 visitation to be brought on. A crowded thoroughfare or a dangerous 

 road, — any incident calculated to excite or to alarm the steed, will as- 

 suredly produce a display of the worst symptoms. 



A medical gentleman, of whose acquaintance the author is justifiably 

 proud, — and whose practice laid upon the western coast, — one evening, 

 after a hard day's work, which had tired all his horses and fairly knocked 

 up their master, was, before his boots were pulled off, apprised that a 

 wealthy lady, and resident eighteen miles distant from his pharmacy, 

 required his immediate attendance. There was no choice but to obey 

 such a summons. The gentleman's own horses he could not think of 

 compelling over such a distance. Therefore the place was scoured, and 

 at last an individual was discovered who was willing to lend, for a con- 

 sideration, "the very best horse in the whole country." The doctor was 

 soon mounted, and progressing to his destination, at the rate of twelve 

 miles an hour. The distance had nearly been accomplished, when the 

 road ran close to the sea. , It was in fact no more than a broad ledge 

 cut in the side of a precipitous cHff. This spot being reached, and the 

 heart of the rider made glad at the prospect of soon accomplishing his 

 journey, the steed suddenly came to a stand. It first trembled all over. 

 The gentleman endeavored to soothe the creature, which he perceived 

 was suffering, but which he concluded was alarmed. He was thus en- 



