Viciousness . Aggressive Vice. 35 



sponsible for his own consequent injuries, but largely also for 

 the habits of the horse and for such injuries as others may sub- 

 sequently sustain from him. 



A dog or a bull shown in a public place, and which breaks 

 loose and injures spectators or others, manifestly renders his 

 master responsible for all such damage. 



Treatment of aggressive vice. In mild dispositions in which 

 the vice is roused by temporary suffering, it may often be cured 

 by removal of the cause of such suffering. Indeed, without the 

 healing of sores under the collar or saddle the vice cannot be ar- 

 rested. Considerate and gentle treatment, too, will go far to re- 

 store confidence and to gradually do away with the aggressive 

 disposition. 



In wicked stallions castration will usually restore to a good 

 measure of docility. The exceptional cases appear to be those 

 that are hereditarily and constitutionally vicious, or in which the 

 habit has been thoroughly developed and firmly fixed by long 

 practice. 



Mares, too, which become vicious and dangerous at each re- 

 currence of CEstrum, can usually be completely cured by the re- 

 moval of the ovaries especially if this is done early in the disease. 



The inveterate cases may usually be subdued and rendered 

 controllable for a time by one of the methods of subjugation em- 

 ployed by the professional tamers, but unless they are thereafter 

 kept in good hands they are liable to relapse into the old habit. 

 Among the more effective methods are the Rarey mode of throw- 

 ing which may be repeated again and again until the animal is 

 thoroughly impressed with a sense of the domination of man and 

 the futility of resistance ; the resort of tying the head and tail 

 closely together and letting the animal weary and daze himself 

 by turning in a circle, first to one side and then to the other ; 

 the application of the Comanche bridle made of a small rope, one 

 loop of which is passed through the mouth and back of the ears 

 and drawn tightly, then another loop is made to encircle the 

 lower jaw, and the chin is drawn in against the trachea by 

 passing the free end of the rope round the upper part of the neck 

 and again through the loop encircling the lower jaw and draw- 

 ing it tight ; or a similar small rope is passed a number of times 

 through the mouth and back of the ears and drawn tightly so as 



