MODERN HIDING. 



15 



It appears manifest, from the construction 

 of this instrument, that its whole force is 

 exerted upon the jaw itself, and that it has 

 power to pinch the bars with violence, even to 

 the fracture of the bone ; and this with very 

 powerful branches has sometimes happened. 

 It can also bruise and totally destroy the ten- 

 der covering of the inside of the mouth, and 

 the skin beneath the jaw. 



From considering its mode of operating, it 

 might reasonably be doubted whether it does 

 in reality stop the horse by its power and op- 

 posed force, as is generally conceived at pre- 

 sent, or rather by the severity of the pain it 

 inflicts; for should the horse arm himself 

 against this, it is totally insufficient to arrest 

 his course ; of which instances occur in run- 

 away horses every day. 



We may now speak of the particular parts 

 of the curb. 



The mouth piece of the curb is usually pro- 

 vided with an upset or arch in the middle of 



