144 



FEAR— ITS EFFECTS. 



difficult, if not impossible, to make them reasonably safe. I am satis- 

 fied that many of the extreme cases of this character which I have 

 treated, have been the effect of prenatal causes. But the nervous 

 system can be so impressed by direct causes of fear and injury, as 

 stated, as to destroy life or produce insanity. 



One of the worst horses I ever handled was a small bay, in Ver^ 

 mont, that was perfectly gentle, except being afraid of the shafts 

 touching one quarter. This was caused by the shaft having run 

 into his quarter. Ordinary cases of this kind yield to treatment in 

 a few moments. Some nervous systems are susceptible to very in- 

 tense impressions when once excited, and there will be correspond- 



Fig. 182— Wild Pete in the Act of Running Away. 



ing difficulty in overcoming them. Therefore success must be 

 determined as much by the intensity of the habit as by the treat- 

 ment. The success of the treatment will depend upon the direct- 

 ness with which the brain can be influenced ; but success in getting 

 up a reaction and changing the character as desired, must be 

 equally the result of the amount of resistance, viciousness, or de- 

 rangement of the nervous system. These are points which should 

 be studied, since frequently even a minor habit, or apparently trifling 

 form of resistance, may cause a great deal of trouble to be overcome, 

 because of the intensely susceptible as well as positive character of 

 the case. 



I will include here reference to a very interesting case of this 

 kind of nervous susceptibility, from a number in my special work, 

 to show the decided effect of proper treatment. 



This was a nine-year-old bay pony, owned by Mr. Smawley, a 

 livery keeper in Petroleum Centre, Pa. This pony was so wild and 



