ART OF HANDLING AND TAMING DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 37 
same sentiment. If, on the contrary, the groom rarely approaches the 
animal unless armed with a whip, or some other means of attack 
or defence, some precautions must be taken. Although it fre- 
quently happens that animals thus brutalized are more frightened 
than vicious, it is always prudent to get out of the way of kicks 
and bites, or, at least, to ward off or escape them when we do ap- 
proach him. 
The signs that announce an animal to be vicious and mischievous 
are, obstinately presenting the croup and refusing to take any other 
position, or advancing the head and opening the mouth menacingly. 
The veterinarian who wishes to examine such ahorse must rapidly 
gain the left shoulder, and, to avoid the attacks of the fore feet and 
the teeth, forcibly seize the halter by the left hand, supporting 
the right hand on the shoulder, holding the arm extended and the 
body slightly inclined forward : lastly, not getting his legs too near 
the animal, who, in making a point, may seriously wound him. 
The two arms thus placed, the hands strongly supported, one on the 
chin or on the bridle, the other on the shoulder or the withers, they 
form a sort of buttress, and hold the animal tolerably steady during 
the time necessary to put on him either a bandage for his eyes or 
his bridle or his harness, or to resort to any other means to direct 
and tame him. In order to manage him we should affix two straps 
the better to master a furious and vicious animal, and to hinder 
him from attacking the man who holds and directs him. The 
animal thus hampered cannot easily wound any one, however 
vicious he may be. When he has his eyes covered, and is held by 
a strong hand between two straps, he is reduced to prompt obedi- 
ence. Instead of beating or maltreating him he should be mildly 
treated and caressed. He is sometimes managed in a curious 
way : they make him turn in a circle until he is so bewildered 
that he suffers with resignation the constraint he is under, and 
even supports in this attitude some of the most painful operations. 
These means, so simple to undertake, have frequently been of 
great service in my practice in the army, and in the farms, where 
intelligent and courageous helpers are seldom found. 
I have often remarked, that the horses which are the most diffi- 
cult to fix, whether in chains, in shackles, or in work, yield to 
very gentle means. It is sufficient to cover their eyes, and make 
them turn for some minutes in a circle, and we shall reduce 
them quickly, if not to obedience, at least to cease to defend 
themselves: by this method I have a great many horses shod 
which were the terror of farriers. 
These means are not less useful when the horse fights against 
the fetters for the feet, and refuses to allow himself to be fixed or 
