THE COACH-HOUSE, HARNESS-ROOM, ETC. 95 



veterinary surgeon, and Messrs. Pickford, the well-known 

 carriers respectively. 



Lastly, we come to the patent of the Elastic Horse- Collar 

 Company, 72 Summer Row, Birmingham. The prospectus 

 gives the following description of the new collar, which, we 

 may mention, is made of thin steel : 



The collar may be described as a hollow pair of hames enlarged 

 to the size of an ordinary collar, and fitting the horse's shoulder 

 like an ordinary collar, but in an improved manner. It is composed 

 of two similar halves, with their necessary- connections, formed of 

 thin steel plates forged into U shape, and is provided with rigid 

 fastenings at top and bottom, thus enabling the collar to be opened 

 on pressing a spring catch at the throat, and then easily put on or 

 taken off a horse's neck, avoiding the necessity of forcing the collar 

 over the horse's head, and greatly facilitating the disengagement of 

 the collar when a horse falls. 



The draught-hooks (which may be replaced by rings or any 

 other appliance to suit existing harness) are attached to the outer 

 and front flanges of the sides of the collar, which are strengthened 

 with internal springs of U shape, and have a considerable degree 

 of elasticity, rendering the collar remarkably easy to the animal's 

 shoulders, and greatly relieving the shock incident to sudden and 

 heavy draught. The elastic steel collars may be readily adjusted 

 to the horse's shoulders, and once fitted never alter their shape ; 

 and presenting a smooth surface galvanised with zinc, they prac- 

 tically extend the advantages of the zinc pad, which has been in 

 use for some years with such good results, all over the collar. The 

 pull is distributed over a large surface of the shoulders, and does 

 not come wholly on the outer edge, as is often the case with the 

 ordinary leather collar. They are always dry, and comfortable, 

 and fit for immediate use. They are invaluable for horses with 

 tender skin, enabling them to work with comfort where, with ordi- 

 nary collars, they would be continually under treatment for galls. 

 The collars are lighter, stronger, cheaper, cleaner, and more com ; - 

 fortable than leather collars. All parts are interchangeable, and, 

 in the event of any part being damaged or worn out, it can be at 

 once replaced at a nominal cost. The hames of ordinary collars 

 are occasionally pulled out of their places, but as hames are not 

 used with the elastic steel collars, that dangerous occurrence cannot 

 happen. The collars are in use by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, 



