108 BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 



will assert her rights, and if the animal powers she 

 has given are unduly taxed, time will shew they have 

 been so. If, from bad management of any sort, three 

 days' work are made to comprise the labour of four, 

 a breaking up of constitution, infirmity of wind or 

 limb, or both, and premature old age, will tell the 

 tale of the abuse of animal power. Unfortunately 

 for the animal, the havoc made is usually too gradual 

 to awaken the attention of the careless or unfeeling ; 

 but the day of reckoning must come, and it will then 

 be seen that over-taxed exertion will tell on the 

 suffering living machine, as much as increased use will 

 on the wheel of the inanimate machine he draws. 



Many persons are by no means aware of the vast 

 increase of animal labour caused by ill-constructed 

 vehicles of any sort. It holds good with the large 

 road waggon, the brewer's dray, the stage coach, 

 and the gentleman's vehicle, in nearly an equal 

 degree. In each, balance, leverage, and absence of 

 unnecessary friction, render them fitted, or the 

 reverse, to their destined purpose ; it is true, we 

 neither want ease to the passenger, nor adaptation to 

 velocity of motion in the cart or dray, but it is 



