OB XJPPEK JAW BIT. 73 



per jaw. If we take a common snaffle bit and slide two 

 rings over the mouth-pieces, and connect them by a strap 

 passing loosely ove: the nose, when the reins, which are 

 attached to the outside rings, are pulled upon, the center of 

 the bit is forced upward against the roof of the mouth. 



FIG. 70. Improved Four-ring Bit. 



This produces such acute pain that but few horses can pull 

 against it for any length of time. 



This bit has been in very general use for a number of 

 years, but I do not know when or by whom it was in- 

 vented. Frank Leslie, of Leslies Weekly, who witnessed 

 some of my experiments in New York City, told me that 



FIG. 71. Improved Four-ring Bit. Patent applied for. 



while in Europe he saw an illustration of such a bit in an 

 old Grecian work. While the bit works fairly well when 

 not pulled upon very hard, its power would be almost 

 wholly lost by the rings sliding to the ends of the bars if 

 the resistance against it were at all severe. To prevent 

 this I devised an obstruction to the rings at a certain point, 

 beyond which they cannot slide. (See cuts 70, 71,) By 

 this improvement the bit will rest easily and naturally in 



