ACCIDENTS OF WORK. 351 



trils are widely dilated ; the horse frequently stretches out 

 his head, as if he wanted more rein, yet goes no faster when 

 he gets it ; at intervals, short or long, according to the degree 

 of congestion, he makes a deep, rapid inspiration, like a hur- 

 ried sigh ; the rider feels this though he can not hear it ; his 

 knees are thrown apart by the expansion of the chest. When 

 these symptoms are apparent, congestion has begun in the 

 lungs. If the horse be now pulled up, or even if his pace be 

 slackened, he recovers his breathing in a little time, varying 

 according to his condition, the depth of his chest, and the de- 

 gree of congestion. Many horses become sulky and refuse 

 to proceed any further ; but the great majority of those em- 

 ployed at fast work can be urged on till they are seriously in- 

 jured or destroyed. The horse, the camel, and the rein-deer, 

 are, perhaps, the only animals that will kill themselves in the 

 service of man. The dog, the ox, the elephant, and perhaps 

 the ass and mule, disregard the lash when it demands oppres- 

 sive exertion. But the horse has been so long and so com- 

 pletely subdued, that his obedience seems to have become 

 hereditary. 



If urged on after the first symptoms, the breathing becomes 

 more difficult ; the deep sigh and the protrusion of the muz- 

 zle more frequent. By-and-by the horse falters ; his motions 

 are sluggish, irregular, confused ; he sinks often on his hind 

 fetlocks, he staggers, reels, makes a running fall, and at last 

 drops, or stands still gasping for breath. For a while before 

 the horse is at his worst, he is so feeble that when put to a 

 ditch or fence he is unable to clear it. 



To prevent deadly or dangerous over-marking, the horse 

 ought to be pulled up at the first sign of distress. If in good 

 condition, he may recover his wind in a few seconds ; if un- 

 prepared for such exertion, or if his chest be small, it may be 

 several minutes ere he revive, and a very little will prevent 

 him from proceeding any further. 



When the distress is allowed to become very great, the 

 horse must stop. Slacken the girths immediately, and take 

 off the saddle. This is important: but some grooms have got 

 a foolish notion that it is not right to remove the girths all at 

 once in such a case. They say the wind will burst the 

 horse. There is no need for argument here. I have re- 

 peatedly put the matter to experiment, and am perfectly satis- 

 fied that it is proper in every case to take the girths away as 

 quickly as possible. Very often the horse recovers immedi- 

 ately, particularly when the girths have been drawn very 



