GENERAL TREATMENT. 323 



kindness of the type of that mentioned by Shakespeare in 

 4 King Lear,' in which a master 



In pure kindness to his horse, buttered its hay, 



may be a real dis-service, may amount to virtual cruelty ; 

 while, on the other hand, true or real kindness may con- 

 sist in firmness, severity, non-indulgence, even apparent 

 harshness ; it may require more of the fortiter in re than of 

 the suaviter in modo, just as so frequently happens in the 

 training of the human child. 



In the wayward animal, as in the self-willed child, chas- 

 tisement may be requisite and beneficial, provided it is rational 

 and appropriate. But, in the hands of the passionate man, 

 it is only too apt to be immoderate, unjust, or inappropriate. 

 As has been pointed out in another chapter, some animals 

 themselves distinguish between merited and unmerited 

 punishment. Certain dogs, for instance, at once see through 

 man's passion, cruelty, injustice, appreciating the true nature 

 of the cause in relation to the effect ; and the moral effect of 

 such passion, cruelty, or injustice, and of punishment result- 

 ing from it, is as bad as it would be under similar circum- 

 stances in the child. Both dog and child lose confidence and 

 respect, become sulky and revengeful, and perhaps never 

 altogether forget or forgive the injury or affront. 



To be productive of such a result as tractability, even 

 kindness may require to be persevering and discriminative. 

 That which is non-discriminating is apt to be mischievous. 

 Thus man's, or more frequently woman's, attentions, if not 

 cautious and judicious, lead to jealousy, rivalry, and crime 

 among pet dogs. Hence there is always a danger of having 

 more than one animal pet at a time. 



In general terms, the treatment of the kwer animals by 

 man is to be conducted on the same principles as that of his 

 fellow man, or of the child by his parent or instructor. This 

 is the only rational system or mode of treatment, the prac- 

 ticLil application of the golden rule, regarding other animals 

 as our fellow creatures, possibly our fellow immortals as they 

 ure our fellow mortals. 



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