THE EFFECTS OF CHLOROFORM ON HORSES. 
135 
leathern (setting) muzzle, into the bottom of which is fitted a tin 
basin, shallow in depth, provided with a moveable perforated lid, 
after the manner of an old-fashioned tinder-box. Through each 
side of it, towards the front, is a circular aperture about an inch 
and a half in diameter, guarded by a perforated tin plate, by means 
of which free communication is kept up with the external air ; and 
between these, directly in front, is a third opening in the muzzle, 
about the same size, differing from the lateral ones only in being 
provided with a lid instead of a perforated plate, which may be 
opened and shut at pleasure, according or not as the animal appears 
to require any additional supply of atmospheric air. The floor of 
the tin basin is covered with sponge, and upon this is poured the 
chloroform ; from an ounce to three ounces being in general suffi- 
cient. The apparatus, such as it is, I have found convenient and 
effective, and 1 shall be happy to shew it to any gentleman who 
may favour me with a call. 
In experimenting on some ponies of my own — which I have at 
times done to gratify some friends of mine — I have found myself 
able to manage and restrain the animal during the inhalation merely 
by standing in front of him, and firmly holding his head by a hand 
upon either rein of the head-stall. In the case of a large or spi- 
rited horse, however, a man’s power would prove insufficient; and 
therefore I have had a long rope attached to the head-collar, and 
passed through a ring in the wall, or some post hard by, and by 
that means have enabled an assistant to restrain the animal in his 
vertiginous or delirious movements, and through it to cause him 
to fall, when he comes to stagger and reel about, upon his quarters , 
instead of suffering him to precipitate himself headlong forwards, 
which might be followed by very serious consequences. 
The muzzle, then, we will say, is buckled fast on the head ; and 
the chloroform is afterwards — not before — poured through the cen- 
tral opening (or over the side of the muzzle), which, as I said before, 
has no perforated plate, but merely a hinged lid, upon the sponge 
within the basin. And now the operator either himself seizes the 
reins of the head-stall, or in case of the rope being used — which is 
the safer plan — merely watches the movements of the animal, at 
the same time steadying his head or other part, while his assistant 
is watchfully and actively engaged with the rope. 
The primary effect of the inhalation is evidently one of excitation. 
The animal begins to feel elated ; every faculty in him seems 
aroused : he looks as though he were momentarily going to make 
a plunge or a dart at you ; his breathing becomes quickened ; his 
pulse accelerated ; he heaves at the flanks, and perhaps becomes 
agitated over his whole frame, and may break out into a sweat. 
By and by, he commences plunging ; fights against his opponents, 
