316 GENERAL TREATMENT. 



ment applies with equal force to man, or, at least, to whole 

 races and classes of men. 



Apart altogether from those higher considerations that 

 are usually dwelt upon by clergymen in their sermons on 

 * Humanity to Animals,' there can be no doubt that there is 

 a true economy in a kindly considerate treatment by man of 

 those domestic or other animals that are subject to his 

 dominion. The motto of all who have any property in, 

 or care over the lower animals should unquestionably be, 

 ' Humanity is the best policy. 9 



In order to show this clearly, it is desirable to draw cer- 

 tain contrasts between the relative nature, causes, and results 

 of man's 



1 . Cruelty, on the one hand ; and 



2. Kindness , on the other, in the management or train- 

 ing of animals. 



The present volume teems with illustrations of both 

 these antithetic forms of treatment : nevertheless it is proper 

 here to introduce certain specific comparisons. 



We take up first the subject of cruelty, its forms, causes, 

 and effects, because it is unfortunately much more frequent 

 or prevalent than its opposite kindness. Nor is this com- 

 monness to be wondered at, considering the nature and 

 extent of man's ignorance of the moral and intellectual 

 constitution of the lower animals. In general terms then it 

 may be safely said that cruelty evokes all the worst moral or 

 mental qualities of an animal. It changes its character for 

 the worse, frequently ruins it irretrievably. It produces 

 such unfortunate changes in disposition, temper,, or charac- 

 ter, as dishonesty, sullenness, moroseness, cunning, deceit, 

 .treachery, undue wariness, ferocity, idleness, which amount 

 to the substitution of vices for virtues. 



In such animals as the dog and horse, on which man is 

 so dependent for his enjoyment or welfare, cruelty, bad usage 

 of all kinds, develops the following serious disabilities : 



1. General irritability, quarrelsomeness and capricious- 

 ness of temper. 



2. Various vicious propensities, such as dangerous biting 

 and kicking. 



