FIRING. 357 



ward between the fore legs, and over tlie opposite shoulder; the 

 end is then passed under the rope at the chest, and after draw- 

 ing up the leg sufficiently, it is secured in this situation with a 

 hitch, which may be quickly loosened in case of the horse's 

 strufTO'lino- so as to be in danger of falling. This contrivance is 

 rendered much more secure if the horse's head be firmly secured 

 to a strong ring in the manger, and his hind parts supported by 

 a breeching, while kicking and lying down may be prevented by 

 a back and a belly strap. 



There*is a permanent contrivance for securing a horse in this 

 way, named a break, or a trevis. I once knew a horse die by 

 struorfflinir in a break, therefore I consider them dangerous : 

 they are chiefly used in nicking and docking horses, and in 

 shoeing vicious animals. A plate, and description of a break, 

 may be found in Bourgelat's " Essai sur les Appareils et sur les 

 Bandages pi-opres aux Quadrupedes." 



Another method is commonly employed in throwing down 

 cattle. A long i*ope is doubled, and tied in a bow at the 

 doubled end, of sufficient size to go over the animal's head, and 

 rest at the bottom of his neck like a collar. The two ends, of 

 equal length, are then to be Ijrought down between the fore and 

 hind less, and one of the ends round each hind leg. The ends 

 of the rope are now drawn forwards on both sides, by which the 

 hind legs are so drawn up under the belly, that he is easily 

 pushed down, and must then be secured.* 



[Since the last edition of this work was published, a new agent 

 has been introduced to fticilitate the performance of opera- 

 tions, and by which pain is altogether abolished. Tliis effect is 

 produced by the inhalation of the vapour of sulphuric ether or 



* In casting colts that have never been handletl, and likewise some vicious 

 horses, there is a difficulty, and sometimes an impossibility, in placing the 

 hobbles on the hind legs. To obviate this, the colt may be thrown by a com- 

 mon cart rope, or, what is much better, by the following contrivance recom- 

 mended by JNlessrs. Simonds and \\^irdle : — 



" It consists of two ropes, to the end of one of which was sewed a leather 

 strap with a buckle attached to it, and to the other another strap with holes 

 pierced in it. At the distance of fifteen inches from these ends, the ropes 

 were sewed together by strong waxed thread. When this point of union was 

 placed under the neck, and the ends buckled together, the ropes formed a 

 collar for the neck, and could be slackened or tightened at pleasure. To 

 each side :»f this rope collar, and somewhat nearer to the point of union than 

 to the buckle and strap, an iron ring was attached on each side, inclosed in a 

 piece of roping. 



" These ropes, dividing under the neck, were passed between the legs and 

 under the belly and round the hind legs on each side, and then brought 

 forward outside the legs, and the extremities passed through the iron loops 

 at the shoulder on each side. "\"\ hen every thing was ready, the ropes were 

 gently lowered to the heels, and, running over the hollow of the heels, as a 

 kind of pulley ; the colt was brought down in an instant by a man on each 

 side pulling at the portion v.hich had passed through the ring." — Ei>. 



A A 3 



