386 POLL EVIL. 
hanging back upon the halter, thus getting the hind feet into the open 
drain which always divides the stalls from the gangway. 
The rope should be stout which has to sustain the huge weight of the 
horse; in proportion to that weight, of course, must be the pressure 
upon the seat of poll evil. Pressure, as a natural consequence, stops 
circulation. Upon circulation being freely performed, health, secretion, 
and even life itself is dependent. The flow of blood to any part of the 
body cannot be long prevented without unpleasant sensations being en- 
gendered. Numbness and itching are the first results. The horse tries 
to master these by rubbing its head violently against the trevise or divi- 
sion of the stall. Friction, when applied to an irritable place, is never 
a soothing process; when instituted by the huge strength of a horse, its 
probable ill effects may be easily surmised. It is, therefore, no legiti- 
mate cause for wonder if some of the fleshy substances, compressed 
between the external wood and the internal bones of the neck, become 
bruised, and deep-seated abscess is thus provoked. 
This, however, is not the sole cause; there are others equally potent 
and generally springing from the same source—namely, from human folly. 
How much of animal agony might be spared if man, in the pride of 
superiority, would deign to waste an occasional thought upon the poor 
creatures which are born and live in this country only by his permission 
and to labor in his service! Stable doors are commonly made as 
though none but human beings had to pass through them. The tallest 
of mankind, probably, might enter a stable without stooping; but does 
it therefore follow that a horse can pass under the beam without assum- 
ing a crouching position? Many horses learn to fear the doorway. 
They shy, rear, or prance, whenever led toward it. Man, however, 
refuses to be instructed by the action of his mute servant; those symp- 
toms of fear, which are the bitter fruits of experience, are attributed to 
the patient and enduring quadruped as exhibitions of the rankest vice. 
Low doors, such as usually belong to stables, are among the most 
frequent causes of poll evil. The horse, when passing through them, 
is either surprised by something it beholds outside the building, or 
checked by the voice of the groom. The sudden elevation of the head 
is, in the animal, expressive of every unexpected emotion. Up goes the 
crest and crash comes the poll against the beam of the doorway. A 
violent bruise is thereby provoked, and a deep-seated abscess is the sad 
result. 
The horse likewise suffers from the representatives in brutality of him 
for whose benefit it wears out its existence. Carters display their 
ignorance by getting into violent passions with their teams. “Whooay” 
and “kum hup” are shouted out; the huge whip is slashed and snaffle 
