DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 
479 
gig, or cart, must be approached with still more precaution, for the 
obstacles that impede his progress irritate and exasperate him, and 
increase all the dangers. In these cases presence of mind, skill, 
and courage, are more than ever necessary to enable us to select 
those modes of action most likely to prevent still further mischief. 
I have frequently seen active courageous men stop a furious horse 
at once, and even throw him down, by suddenly curving the head 
and pressing it on the neck, either by seizing the bit, or grasping 
the lower lip with one hand and the ear with the other. 
Paris has recently witnessed the influence exercised by a bold 
vigorous man over a powerful horse. A Russian who wished to 
castrate an animal seized him by the thighs and hocks, held him 
firmly in his nervous grasp, and then, by a sudden movement 
equally rapid and cruel, tore off the testicles with his teeth, which 
served him at once for bistoury and instrument of torsion. This 
extraordinary man required no assistants — no apparatus where- 
with to fix the horse before he commenced his strange and cruel 
operation. He practised it repeatedly, and always with success, 
and stated that such was the mode in which it was uniformly 
practised in his native country. 
Notwithstanding these successful results attendant on energy 
and courage, we are inclined to believe that gentleness and patience 
are far preferable qualities for taming most animals. Kind treat- 
ment will seldom fail to soften the most stubborn beast, while 
blows, threats, and violence, only tend to make him more than ever 
furious and unmanageable. 
The cries and shouts of the spectators increase the wildness and 
terror of a run-away animal, and the clumsy attempts which some 
make to stop him serve but to increase the danger : every effort 
should, therefore, be made to silence, and get rid of the noisy and 
unmanageable throng ; and to tempt the animal by shewing him 
corn or some other food, and thus getting him into a situation where 
the gates can be closed upon him. If he directs his course to- 
wards the high road or populous streets, every means must be 
used to turn him aside, and compel him to enter some place where 
he can be secured, and do no further mischief. 
It is more difficult to stop the career of a horse without bridle 
or harness on, since there is then nothing to lay hold of. If his 
wildness is merely induced by superabundant spirit, and good 
feeding, and little work, all that is necessary is to let him take 
his course for awhile, and then coax him with bread, oats, or 
green meat, and he will stop of his own accord, and suffer himself 
to be caught. He must not, however, be approached too suddenly, 
nor any attempt be made to put on a bridle or halter, for then he 
