GENEKAL PEINCIPLES. Ill 



comes to inquire into the best mode of attaining the 

 last-named quality, which is, of course, that most de- 

 sired, we find that the exceedingly sensitive gums of the 

 horse are supposed to become soft in consequence of 

 being subjected to a greater or less amount of pressure 

 from a piece of hard iron; an idea in itself perfectly 

 monstrous and contrary to fact, inasmuch as long- 

 continued pressure, if not too violent in degree, has 

 the tendency to produce a gradual thickening of the 

 membranes in fact, renders the mouth callous, or the 

 contrary of soft ; and if so violent in degree as to 

 destroy the textures, and actually involve mechanical 

 softness, the reverse of what is understood by a soft 

 mouth is nearly always produced. 



Here, then, most people who have to do with horses 

 start in life with an incorrect mode of expression, which 

 leads directly to a misconception of an important ques- 

 tion, and this in its turn to absurd and mischievous 

 methods of practice, and all this from a want of know- 

 ledge or a proper application of the simplest mechanical 

 principles. It requires, indeed, only the most superficial 

 inspection of a horse or other animal, either standing 

 or in motion, to perceive that we have to do with a 

 series of much more beautiful and perfect mechanical 

 contrivances than human ingenuity is capable of de- 

 vising for the elasticity and power of animal muscle 

 and tendon is altogether beyond our imitation; and 

 this, applied to a most wonderful combination of levers, 

 constitutes the mechanism of animal power. A little 

 further consideration cannot fail to show us that the 

 means we employ to direct the power of a horse, and 

 make it subservient to our wants and wishes, are alto- 

 gether mechanical in their nature ; and on entering into 



