Horse Attendants and Stable Duties. 189 



about the proper management of horses, 

 their attention should, from the first, be 

 called to certain details which play a large 

 part in the welfare of the animals under 

 their charge. On land, grooms almost always 

 approach stabled horses from behind, but at 

 sea the animals are turned the other way 

 about. When an ordinary working man or 

 boy who is unacquainted with equine pecu- 

 liarities, passes by a box or stall from which 

 the head of a horse protrudes, he almost 

 always, either from ignorant fear of being 

 bitten or innate cruelty, strikes more or less 

 severely the animal's muzzle, which is par- 

 ticularly sensitive to external violence. As 

 the upper lip of a horse is his organ of 

 touch, he naturally advances it towards any 

 passing object, which he will do without the 



