MEDICINES, OH DRUGS. 407 



hand, and letting the dog smell of it, when he will follow 

 anywhere. The secret of the effect of these ostlets upon 

 the horse, is undoubtedly the strong pungent odor, which 

 has a remarkably soothing effect upon the nervous system, 

 by which the horse is disconcerted and won from his pur- 

 pose of resistance. 



It is well known that gypsies are very successful in 

 managing vicious horses. Their method of management is 

 to boil a plug of tobacco in a gallon of ale, until the strength 

 is extracted, then give enough of it to make the horse so 

 sick that he cannot resist.* He is then driven as desired, 

 and when over the effect of it, the dose is repeated, if nec- 

 essary. 



I never but once resorted to the use of medicine 

 to control a horse before a class. When at Ho ward ? 

 Steuben Co., N. Y., a strong, wild, unbroken colt seven 

 years old, was the subject of experiment. At the time, 

 I was so prostrated by ague that I was not able to give 

 the horse sufficient treatment to drive him under canvas or 

 in the street with safety. The class insisted upon my 

 doing this. I therefore proposed to the owner that the 

 colt be taken to the next town, where I would be on the 

 following day, when I would make him drive gently, promis- 

 ing that if I failed to do so satisfactorily, I would return them 

 their money. Next morning I was more prostrated than be- 

 fore, but as my failure to drive the horse in the street would 

 necessitate a return of the money, and make it impossible for 

 me to form a class there, I was compelled to resort to strat- 

 egy. I directed one of my men to go to the drug store and 

 get two ounces of tincture of lobelia, and, when free from 

 observation, give it to the horse. In about half an hour, 



*This was given me by a gypsy who was a member of my class. Gypsies have 

 been repeatedly in my classes since, and all admit that this was their principal 

 secret. 



